Fulfilling the marriage contract
She looked at his cold, handsome face so close to hers. His eyes, which were always unfathomable, now clearly reflected her image. Gone was the usual icy coldness; instead, there was a focused, profound longing for an answer.
What should she say?
Saying yes? But too many problems entangled them. His aloofness, her fear, King Zhao's gentleness, Princess Beiyuan's predatory gaze…
Another cold voice, from the depths of her soul and belonging to the original ending, rang sharply in her mind!
She almost forgot that she was a time traveler! She knew the ending of "Jiang Wanzhi" in that novel! She was just a cannon fodder female supporting character who would eventually die at the hands of the man in front of her, even causing the entire Jiang family to be wiped out and blood to flow like a river!
How could she have forgotten this?! All the turmoil, grievances, and even the subtle guilt she felt towards King Zhao these past few days seem so ridiculous and insignificant in the face of this bloody premonition!
To say no? That imperial edict was a royal command, and she couldn't bear the consequences of disobeying it. Besides... honestly, could she really say "no" without hesitation to this man who had forcefully entered her life, who could lose control because of her, and who even said "I miss you"?
A jumble of thoughts raced through her mind, tangling into a chaotic mess. She opened her mouth, but found her throat dry, unable to utter a single word. Her silence and hesitation, like a tiny needle, pierced Zongzheng Hengyu's heart.
He saw the obvious struggle in her eyes; he didn't need her promises at this moment.
Because, whether she likes it or not, she can only belong to him.
"Enough." He suddenly spoke, his voice regaining its usual coldness, revealing neither disappointment nor anger, only a final decision, "Let's return to the palace."
He released his arms from hers, no longer looking at the complicated expression on her face. He turned around, his steps steady, his back straight and aloof, and walked towards the brightly lit Linde Hall.
Jiang Wanzhi watched his resolute departure, feeling a void in her heart. She knew her silence might have hurt him. But she... really hadn't made up her mind yet.
She took a deep breath of the cool night air, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and hair, and followed after him, her steps heavy.
…………
Inside the Linde Hall, singing and dancing filled the air, creating a lively and joyous atmosphere.
Emperor Zongzheng Hong sat high on his throne, his face glowing, clearly in high spirits. His gaze swept over Zongzheng Hengyu below him, and he laughed loudly, "My good son, your pacification of the northern rebellion has enhanced our national prestige and facilitated the peace talks with Beiyuan. Your contributions to the state are immense! I am deeply gratified! Speak, what reward do you desire? If it is within my power, I will grant it!"
Upon hearing this, all eyes in the hall focused on Zongzheng Hengyu. Gold, silver, jewels, and promotions were all within everyone's expectations.
Princess Munasha looked at him with a smile, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She seemed to be preparing to make the well-known request for a "marriage alliance" at the right time.
Under everyone's gaze, Zongzheng Hengyu slowly stood up. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, and his black and gold robe made his face look even more stern and his aura powerful.
He did not glance at the potentially priceless rewards, but instead raised his eyes, his gaze calm yet resolute as he looked at the emperor on the throne. His voice was clear and steady, instantly resonating throughout the entire hall:
"Father, I do have a request."
The hall fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.
The emperor raised an eyebrow with interest: "Oh? Hengyu, please speak freely."
Zongzheng Hengyu's gaze did not fall on Jiang Wanzhi, but his next words made her heart skip a beat:
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you grant me permission to marry Jiang Wanzhi, the daughter of Prime Minister Jiang, and to choose an auspicious day for our wedding."
!!
The entire Linde Hall fell into a deathly silence in an instant!
No one expected that His Highness Prince Heng, who didn't want gold, silver, or power, would actually ask for marriage in front of the Beiyuan delegation at the triumphant banquet!
This... this is simply putting the face of that Princess Beiyuan and the possible marriage proposal to the ground in utter disgrace!
Jiang Wanzhi suddenly raised her head and looked incredulously at the man standing in the center of the hall, his face cold but his eyes resolute.
He...wasn't he just asking her what she wanted? Why did he suddenly push her into the spotlight in such an unquestionable way?
An eerie silence fell over the hall; everyone was stunned by the sudden request.
King Zhaozong, his expression clear, sat in his seat, his hand holding the wine cup trembling slightly. His eyelids were lowered, obscuring his expression, but the somber aura that instantly enveloped him betrayed the turbulent emotions within him.
Emperor Zongzheng Hong was clearly taken aback for a moment. He looked down at his son, whose face was stern but whose eyes were unusually firm.
However, before the emperor could speak, a gentle yet clearly dissenting voice rang out:
"Father, I believe there may be something wrong with this matter."
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw King Zhaozong, who was standing up slowly. Beneath his gentle and clear eyes lay a sharpness that was not easily detected.
"Oh? What are your thoughts, Zhaoran?" The emperor asked calmly, his eyes flashing slightly.
Prince Zhao bowed to the emperor, his tone calm yet firm: “Father, my ninth brother has just returned in triumph, and the Northern Abyss delegation is also visiting for the first time. Is it too hasty to discuss marriage at this time? Moreover, with Princess Northern Abyss here, if our Great Shang is in a hurry to arrange the prince’s marriage, it may be seen as neglecting our guests from afar, and it will also be detrimental to the alliance negotiations that our two countries are currently discussing.”
As soon as King Zhao finished speaking, a middle-aged man dressed in the official robes of the Northern Yuan delegation stood up. He was none other than Helian Tu, the Deputy Envoy of Northern Yuan and Minister of Rites. His face was solemn as he bowed to the Emperor, his voice booming:
"Your Majesty, the Emperor of Great Shang, I, your humble servant, agree with His Highness Prince Zhao's words. My Northern Abyss comes with the utmost sincerity, seeking eternal friendship between our two nations. His Highness Prince Heng is valiant, and Princess Munasha of our dynasty greatly admires him. If Great Shang is so eager to arrange a marriage for Prince Heng at this moment, it would seem... lacking in the most basic respect for the Northern Abyss royal family, and would also make us doubt the sincerity of our peace negotiations."
Helian Tu's words were even more direct, almost putting the intention of "marriage alliance" on the table, and using the sincerity of peace negotiations as a threat, his tone carrying the straightforwardness and toughness unique to the nomadic people of the grasslands.
The atmosphere in the hall instantly became even more tense. The ministers who supported King Zhao nodded secretly, feeling that His Highness had thought things through; while some experienced and prudent ministers looked worried, concerned that this would affect the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Just then, Princess Muna Sha of the Northern Abyss also stood up. Her face was covered by a light veil, but her bright eyes were filled with grievance and resentment, yet her voice still maintained the demeanor of a princess.
“Your Majesty, Natasha has come from afar, admiring the elegance of the Great Shang and respecting heroes like Prince Heng. My father sent Natasha here with the hope of forging a friendly alliance between our two nations.”
As she spoke, her gaze turned to Zongzheng Hengyu, filled with undisguised admiration and resentment, "Your Highness... is the sincerity of Natasha and Beiyuan not enough to make Your Highness set aside personal matters and prioritize state affairs?"
The three parties launched successive attacks, their words sharp and each with its own basis, all aimed directly at Zongzheng Hengyu's marriage proposal. All eyes were once again focused on Prince Heng, eager to see how he would handle this situation that had almost become an encirclement.
Jiang Wanzhi sat in her seat, her palms already sweating. She hadn't expected that a mere request for a marriage engagement would provoke such fierce opposition and a diplomatic crisis.
However, Zongzheng Hengyu, at the center of the storm, remained completely unfazed. His eyes didn't even flicker; it was as if the dissenting voices were merely a gentle breeze passing over a hillside.
He first glanced at King Zhao indifferently, his voice calm and even, yet carrying an all-knowing indifference: "King Zhao, you are overthinking it. The northern border has been pacified, and the details of the alliance will be negotiated between the envoys and the court. It has nothing to do with my wedding date. Does King Zhao believe that the peace of our Great Shang's borders depends on whether I get married? Such remarks not only elevate me but also belittle the prestige of our Great Shang."
With a single sentence, he directly reversed the accusation that King Zhao had "affected diplomatic relations," elevating it to the level of disrespecting national prestige. His sharp words caused King Zhao's face to darken slightly, leaving him momentarily speechless.
Then, Zongzheng Hengyu turned his gaze to Helian Tu, the deputy envoy of Beiyuan, his eyes sharp as knives, carrying the ruthless aura of someone who had been through many battles: "Lord Helian, Beiyuan's sincerity in seeking peace lies in whether there will be no more war on the border, and in whether trade can benefit the people of both countries, not in who I will marry. If Beiyuan believes that it can interfere with the marriage of my prince and thus affect the alliance through such means..." He paused slightly, his tone suddenly turning cold, "Then this alliance is best left undiscussed."
"Hiss..." A collective gasp filled the hall. Heng Wang's words were utterly merciless, directly refuting Bei Yuan's potential threat and demonstrating a firm stance.
Finally, he looked at the tearful Munasha, his eyes still indifferent, his tone even polite, yet distant as if he were speaking to any foreign envoy: "Your Highness's kindness is appreciated. But marriage is a matter of life and death, how can it be treated lightly? I am already engaged to Lady Jiang, the imperial decree has been issued, and the whole world knows. Fulfilling a promise is a matter of human ethics and also obeying the orders of His Majesty the Great Shang. If I were to break my promise and disregard His Majesty's decree simply because of the arrival of a guest from afar, wouldn't that make my Great Shang a laughingstock? Your Highness is a wise and righteous person, I'm sure you can understand."
The entire Linde Hall fell silent once again. But this time, the silence was filled with awe at Prince Heng's powerful aura and eloquence.
Emperor Zongzheng Hong, seated high on his throne, took in everything, a barely perceptible hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. His son not only possessed the talent to command troops, but also the courage and wisdom to navigate the turbulent political landscape.
"Alright." The emperor finally spoke, his voice carrying an unquestionable majesty, breaking the silence. "Hengyu is absolutely right. The marriage agreement has long been settled. How can my golden words be taken lightly? The peace negotiations with Beiyuan have their own procedures, and they do not conflict with the marriage of our dynasty's prince."
He made the final decision, completely affirming Zongzheng Hengyu's request.
“Vice Envoy Helian, Princess Munasha,” the Emperor said, looking at the Northern Yuan delegation. His tone softened, but he still maintained his imperial majesty. “I know of Northern Yuan’s sincerity. Diplomatic matters are of great importance, and I and the court will treat them with utmost seriousness. However, the marriage of a prince is also an internal affair of our royal family, and I hope that your esteemed envoy will understand.”
With the emperor personally setting the tone, the Northern Abyss delegation, despite their thousandfold resentment, could say nothing more. Helian Tu sat down with a grim expression, while Muna Sha bit her lower lip so hard she almost tore the silk handkerchief in her hand to shreds.
King Zhaozong, Zongzheng Zhaoran, took a deep look at the cold-faced Zongzheng Hengyu, then glanced at Jiang Wanzhi in the distance, whose face was pale and whose expression was complicated. Finally, he sat down silently, picked up his wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp. In his warm eyes, there was an unyielding gloom and coldness.
"Minister Jiang," the emperor turned his gaze to Prime Minister Jiang, "what is your opinion?"
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