Chapter 234 A Chance to Survive
Before anyone knew it, Xiao Zhen was standing next to Qin Jinzhi.
Qin Jinzhi tossed the fruit pit aside and wiped her hands.
"Are you afraid I'll harm you on your way out of the capital?"
Xiao Zhen didn't speak, but his eyes showed agreement.
Qin Jinzhi chuckled lightly, "I think you've got it wrong. If you weren't surnamed Xiao, you wouldn't even have the right to speak to me. You're not qualified to be my opponent."
Xiao Zhen blushed at what she said.
Qin Jinzhi's meaning was simple: only those who posed a threat were worth her attention.
In her eyes, Xiao Zhen wasn't even a threat.
But he also knew that what Qin Jinzhi said was true.
He had previously held onto a sliver of hope, but now it seemed that it would be far too easy for Qin Jinzhi to kill him silently.
Xiao Zhen took a deep breath, "Will Father really bestow the title of King upon me today?"
Qin Jinzhi tilted her head and raised her chin.
Xiao Zhen looked in the direction she pointed.
A rather thin, pale-faced young woman was sitting next to the football field.
She smiled as she watched the girls below playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football).
Xiao Zhen didn't know what she meant.
Qin Jinzhi said, "This is the princess chosen for you. You will ask for the imperial decree to grant you the marriage during the banquet."
Xiao Zhen listened to Qin Jinzhi's words in disbelief, "What?"
Qin Jinzhi simply turned to look at him and said, "Her health is somewhat weak, and she needs a place suitable for recuperation in all four seasons. You must take good care of her on a daily basis. If she dies within ten years, you will be buried with her."
Xiao Zhen felt a sharp, throbbing pain in her heart.
He was a prince, yet he was reduced to the point of being buried alive with a sickly man.
Qin Jinzhi knew what Xiao Zhen was thinking.
"If I were you, I would treat that girl differently. You have to understand, she is your only way to survive."
Xiao Zhen clenched his hands, remained silent for a while, and then left.
The thin girl watched for a while, then got up and walked towards Qin Jinzhi.
When Qin Jinzhi saw her coming over, she asked, "Why aren't you watching anymore? Are you bored? Do you want me to find some people to keep you company?"
The girl smiled and shook her head, "I get out of breath after walking just a few steps, so I don't want to trouble others."
Qin Jinzhi poured her a cup of tea. "When will General Chen arrive in Beijing?"
The girl smiled and said, "I will be able to enter the capital in three days."
Qin Jinzhi nodded, "Go out and get some sun more often. Take the medicine Liu Yiyi prescribed on time; her medical skills are quite impressive."
After coughing twice, the girl said with some guilt, "Xiao Bao, you have been taking care of me all these years. My frail body is only able to survive today thanks to your expensive medicines every day. I am a useless person and can only be a burden to you."
Qin Jinzhi picked up the teacup and held it to her lips, "Have some water."
The girl was forced to drink some water.
"Xiao Bao, I plan to go back to the border with my grandfather."
Qin Jinzhi picked up the water glass and brought it to her lips again, "No, the border is not a good place to recuperate."
The girl took another sip of water. "Not only can I not help you in the capital, I will also be a burden to you."
Qin Jinzhi put down her teacup. "Don't worry, I've found you a good place to recuperate. Don't worry about being a burden to me."
The girl blinked; the sadness she felt earlier had vanished after Qin Jinzhi fed her a few sips of water.
The banquet began, and everyone gathered in the main hall to drink and gaze at the stars.
In the midst of his heightened interest, Xiao Zhen stood up from his seat.
"Father, Mother, on this auspicious day, I have a request."
The emperor looked at Xiao Zhen with a smile, "Nineteenth Prince, what brings you here?"
Xiao Zhen knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I have long admired Miss Chen. Today, I beg you to grant us a marriage."
The emperor seemed to be pondering, "Miss Chen? Which Miss Chen?"
Xiao Zhen said, "Chen Ning'an, the granddaughter of General Chen."
Chen Ning'an looked at Xiao Zhen in astonishment when he heard his name called.
Then he looked at Qin Jinzhi.
Upon hearing this, the emperor immediately burst into laughter, "You have a good eye, young man. General Chen has fought alongside the Prince of Zhenbei for many years, and his loyalty and bravery are unmatched. His granddaughter is naturally excellent. Where is Chen Ning'an?"
Upon hearing the emperor's voice, Chen Ning'an quickly stood up. "Chen Ning'an greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."
The Emperor and Empress were very pleased with Chen Ning'an.
Then the emperor spoke up: "Chen Ning'an, the nineteenth prince wishes to marry you. What do you think?"
Chen Ning'an lowered his head and said, "It is entirely up to Your Majesty and the Empress to decide."
The emperor laughed heartily, “Very well! Since that’s the case, I will bestow a marriage upon you today. In the blink of an eye, the nineteenth prince has reached the age of marriage. In that case, Hong Dequan, draft the decree.”
"I hereby bestow upon the nineteenth prince the title of Prince Xian and grant him the fief of Kaizhou. Chen Ning'an of the Chen family is both talented and handsome, gentle and polite, and is a perfect match for Prince Xian. Today I hereby bestow marriage upon the two of you, and we shall choose an auspicious day for the wedding."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Thank you, Father Emperor!"
Xiao Zhen returned to her seat and drank two glasses of wine with a self-deprecating smile.
Qin Jinzhi was right; even his father couldn't remember his name.
He was granted the title of king because Qin Jinzhi needed a marriage decree.
Qin Jinzhi was right. If it weren't for this Miss Chen, he really wouldn't have survived.
It was unbelievable that Chen Ning'an returned to his seat.
Her life and Qin Jinzhi's life were like copies of each other's.
The whole family was loyal and brave, but only the grandfather survived.
However, she was born with congenital deficiencies and suffered from chronic illnesses since childhood.
General Chen dotes on his granddaughter.
They sent her back to the capital.
Therefore, she has been living in seclusion in Beijing to recuperate.
Qin Jinzhi has been taking care of her for so many years.
She never imagined that she could get married despite her disabled body.
Most importantly, she was born posthumously.
No one will marry her.
Qin Jinzhi's words were still ringing in her mind.
She had never met the nineteenth prince, now known as the Prince of Xian.
Chen Ning'an knew that this arranged marriage must have been Qin Jinzhi's doing.
Even ordinary people are wary of her background.
But now, the one who married her was a prince.
Qin Ye glanced at the emperor and asked Qin Jinzhi beside him, "Why are you suddenly choosing a husband for Ning'an?"
Qin Jinzhi moved closer to him, "Chen Ning'an is heartbroken every day because she was born posthumously. Her illness is because she keeps thinking about this and that, which is why she can't get better."
Since she cares so much about her destiny, I'll use the most precious destiny in the world to dispel it for her. A prince's destiny should be enough, right?
Qin Ye nodded. "If it can alleviate some of her worries, that would be a good thing."
Qin Jinzhi spoke again: "General Chen only has one granddaughter, Chen Ning'an. Chen Ning'an's marriage has always been a worry for him. It would be good if a marriage could change the unhappiness of both of them."
Qin Ye raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure this kid will listen to you? He won't bully Ning An, will he?"
Qin Jinzhi poured Qin Ye a glass of wine, saying, "Don't worry, he wouldn't dare."
Qin Ye finished the wine in his cup.
"This isn't the only marriage bestowed upon us today."
Qin Jinzhi smiled broadly, "Grandfather is so clever."
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