Chapter 208 Marriage Alliance
The Song family was almost at the outer city; it was just an ordinary residence, far less grand than the Earl's mansion.
Qiu Heng and the other three stayed by Qiu Xuan's side until she completed the wedding ceremony before taking a car back.
Qiu Ying was still immersed in the excitement of seeing such a handsome couple: "I can't even imagine how good-looking my second sister's children will be in the future."
Qiu Fu couldn't stand it: "It's not that exaggerated. He's just a bit handsome, not like Pan An or Song Yu."
Qiu Ying was shocked: "Fourth Sister, you have such high standards. You want Pan An and Song Yu? The young men I usually see are only considered good-looking if they are even slightly decent-looking."
Qiu Fu thought about it and nodded: "That's true."
Seeing that Qiu Ying valued a man's appearance highly, Qiu Heng took the opportunity to remind her, "Character comes first, physical appearance second."
In the book's brief mention of the Qiu sisters' fates, Qiu Ying eloped with someone and ultimately ended up in a brothel.
The man who eloped with her is probably no good.
Qiu Yun didn't want to say anything, but hearing Qiu Heng say that, she felt like she had found a supporter: "Sixth Sister is right, physical appearance is the least useful thing, character and family background are more important..."
My second sister is the only daughter of the second wife, yet she married into such an ordinary family. It's unbelievable that many of the guests I saw today were dressed in peasant attire.
Qiu Ying, a lively girl, winked at Qiu Heng and asked, "Sixth Sister, what do you think of Lord Xue?"
Faced with her sisters' teasing, Qiu Heng remained calm: "She is both beautiful and virtuous."
The sound of girls laughing and joking filled the carriage.
After that, Qiu Heng continued to enter the palace every day, occasionally exchanging information with Xue Han.
Neither Consort Yu nor anyone who occasionally left the palace from Yu Chen Palace showed any unusual behavior.
As time went by, Qiu Heng couldn't help but wonder if she was being too suspicious.
Cherries are red, banana leaves are green, and the singing and dancing are a sign of peace and prosperity in the capital. Although the unrest in the southeast is not out of control, it cannot be quelled in the short term.
Conflicts between Xia and Qi on the border increased. In several places, due to weak troop strength or mediocre commanders, the Qi army gained considerable advantages. In one instance, the Qi army even broke through the border and drove deep into the territory to burn, kill, and plunder.
Xijiang borders Northern Qi to the north and Great Xia to the east. It is a land of scarcity and its people are known for their fierce nature. Northern Qi has no incentive to fight this old ally, who is even poorer and tougher than itself, and Great Xia is even less likely to be so foolish as to provoke a conflict with Xijiang. On the contrary, Xijiang has occasionally caused trouble over the years, allowing Great Xia to pay for peace, especially when relations between Great Xia and Northern Qi are tense.
The alliance between the Xia Dynasty and the Western Jiang, as recorded in the book, did indeed occur.
Taking advantage of the situation, Xi Jiang demanded a large amount of gold and silver, and proposed to marry the princess of Da Xia as her queen.
Some ministers opposed this request.
"The alliance between the two countries, with Xijiang sending troops and our country providing funds, is perfectly reasonable. What is the meaning of the princess's marriage? Our Great Xia has not been defeated by Xijiang. Xijiang's move is simply pushing its luck."
"I second that proposal."
"I second that proposal."
...
There were also many officials and nobles who supported the marriage alliance.
"The unrest in the southeast is not yet quelled, and the Northern Qi is eyeing us covetously. If things continue like this, the losses will be far more than what Xi Jiang wants."
“Indeed, so many soldiers and civilians die every day in the southeast and north. Don’t their lives matter? Your Majesty, the sooner we receive Xijiang’s assistance and quell the war, the sooner we can save countless lives!”
Emperor Jingping felt a headache coming on as he listened to the argument between the two sides.
"Cough cough."
With a soft cough from Emperor Jingping, the hall fell silent for a moment.
Emperor Jingping slowly swept his gaze across the assembled officials: "To exchange the safety of one person for the peace of thousands of people is indeed worthwhile. But have you all forgotten that Princess Jingwan, the oldest unmarried woman, is only eleven years old?"
Upon hearing this, the ministers exchanged glances, and for a moment no one spoke.
Emperor Jingping waited for a while, and seeing that no one spoke, he sighed: "Then we will have to choose a suitable one from among the women of the imperial clan."
The hall became even quieter.
Ministers who opposed the princess's marriage to a foreign ruler were too lazy to get involved in the selection of a princess, while officials who supported it believed that having a princess to marry into the country in exchange for peace was enough. They didn't care who the princess was, and making a suggestion would offend people.
Emperor Jingping looked at the row of princes and dukes.
The kings all had the same thought: No wonder those who don't usually attend court have come today; His Majesty must have had this in mind all along.
A princess sent to marry a foreign ruler? They don't object.
Sending your daughter to Xijiang? Xijiang is a desolate desert, a barren and impoverished place. What's the difference between that and sending her to her death?
If I were to be personally selected by the Emperor, I would have no choice but to accept it; I could not possibly step forward voluntarily.
It all depends on which guy is unlucky.
As the other kings were thinking this and trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible, Prince Fu suddenly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to share your burdens."
Everyone looked at Prince Fu in shock.
Emperor Jingping was also taken aback and couldn't help but say, "Prince Fu, you only have one daughter, Rong Ning—"
Emperor Jingping never expected that Prince Fu would take the initiative to step forward.
Even the most powerful and the most biased are not without merit. Among the princes present, the one closest to him was Prince Fu, but Prince Fu only had one daughter, and Emperor Jingping was reluctant to send Princess Rongning to marry him.
"This young lady has been born into a life of luxury and pampered, all because she is a member of the imperial family and has received the Emperor's favor. It is her honor, and even more so the honor of the Prince of Fu's mansion, to be able to serve the country and its people."
“Prince Fu, please consider this important matter for a couple of days before making a decision.”
Prince Fu bowed deeply: "Your subject has thought it through."
"Very well, Prince Fu is very kind." Since Prince Fu insisted, what else could Emperor Jingping do to stop him? He said with a look of satisfaction, "Prince Fu is very righteous and shares my burdens. He is truly a model for the imperial family. I will remember this loyalty to the emperor."
After the court session ended, Prince Fu returned to his residence and told Princess Fu about the matter.
"Your Highness isn't joking, is he?" Princess Fu asked, clinging to a sliver of hope, completely disbelieving her ears.
"How can you joke about something like this? That would be deceiving the emperor."
Princess Fu's face drained of color, and her vision blurred. She had to hold onto the armrest of the chair to keep from falling.
"Your Highness, we only have one daughter, Rongning. Even if His Majesty chooses her, we still beg His Majesty to be lenient and choose someone else. How can you take the initiative to push Rongning away!"
Prince Fu's expression darkened slightly: "If the Princess Consort's words get out, people will laugh at us. Our daughters are the apple of our eye, while other people's daughters are just worthless weeds?"
“I don’t care, I’m going to the palace to beg His Majesty to rescind his decree. It’s not too late before the imperial edict is issued…” Princess Fu choked up as she got up and walked out.
Prince Fu quickly stopped him: "Don't be ridiculous!"
Princess Fu paused, not because of Prince Fu's obstruction, but because she saw her daughter standing at the door.
Prince Fu looked towards the doorway and smiled gently: "Rong Ning."
Princess Rongning walked over step by step, her face pale, but she did not appear to lose her composure.
"Rong Ning, you...you've heard about it?" Princess Fu asked, tears streaming down her face.
Princess Rongning nodded slightly and looked at Prince Fu: "Father, did you really ask the Emperor to let your daughter marry into the Xijiang region?"
(End of this chapter)
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