She was naturally impatient, and when it came to her elder sister, she was more likely to lose control. She sat up, grabbed Rong Yang's arm, and made her face her. She said in a hoarse voice, "Elder sister, Da Jing is demanding that the legitimate princess marry into the state, but they are demanding that the dowry be made by skilled craftsmen from all walks of life in the Southern Dynasty. To put it bluntly, they just want the skills that have been passed down in the Southern Dynasty for hundreds of years."
Since that's the case, let's skip the marriage alliance and just give it to them directly. Although it won't look good on the surface, the Southern Dynasty is currently ceding territory and paying reparations, and sending tribute every year. Everyone knows that they are kneeling before the Great Jing, begging for peace. What dignity is left to speak of?
However, no one in the entire court mentioned this. Instead, because the Emperor of Dajing proposed to send a legitimate princess to marry a foreign ruler, they felt that it was a joyous occasion for the two countries to form a fraternal alliance. In this way, whether it was sending a princess or ceding territory and paying reparations, it was just the princess's dowry for the marriage!
They're shameless, a bunch of spineless cowards who can't stand up, yet they use their older sister as a fig leaf!
How ridiculous!! How utterly ridiculous!
Sister… how can I tolerate such an absurd thing? How can I just watch you jump into a fire pit?
Rong Ning's eyes reddened. She had never hated these officials from the Southern Dynasty who were all scholars. They had no ambition, no courage, but they valued face more than anything else.
She had never hated her father so much. He had given everything to ascend to the throne, yet he couldn't even protect his own daughter.
Or perhaps he didn't want to protect her at all, but only saw her as a useful pawn, simply making the most of her resources.
“Sister…The great Southern Dynasty will not completely collapse just because it lost two legitimate princesses. If the officials refuse to budge and Father is unwilling to change his mind, what’s wrong with us leaving for distant lands?”
What if we go far away from home?
It's not as easy as it sounds.
Rong Yang raised her head, forcing back her tears, and stroked the little girl's hair with her fair and delicate hand. Her voice was hoarse, "A Ning... if we don't use the pretense of a princess's marriage to the emperor and just send everything that Da Jing wants over there, then the Southern Dynasty will really be like a dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy, with no dignity whatsoever, just as you said."
However, if these people were brought over under the pretext of a marriage alliance, it would appear on the surface that the Great Jing and the Southern Dynasty were forming a friendly alliance, which would be more acceptable.
People will appreciate the royal family sacrificing their noble eldest daughter for the greater good of the country, and there will be less criticism of the emperor for killing his brother to ascend the throne.
The emperor has just ascended the throne, and the people's hearts are very important.
The various factions in the court are intricately intertwined, and a single move can have far-reaching consequences. Therefore, my father would not take any risks, and sending me there for a marriage alliance is the best option.
A'Ning, I know you have a strong personality and cannot bear to see or accept the current choices made by Father and the officials. You feel that I have been wronged and that you have lost the spirit of a great nation.
But the Southern Dynasty's bureaucracy was weak and incompetent, a problem that developed overnight. We are outnumbered and outmatched; even if we suffer heavy losses, what can we change?
Rong Ning couldn't stand these things the most, and said coldly, "Sister, this is what I hate the most. Civil officials dominate the court, and military generals are dying out. As soon as Da Jing proposed a marriage alliance, the officials forced Father to recall me from Kangye City, saying that the princess is a golden branch and jade leaf and should not show her face on the front line."
Ha... Now you remember I'm a princess with a noble birth?
I have countless military achievements. If I were a man, I would have been promoted and rewarded long ago. But from beginning to end, did any of the officials ever mention this matter? And who ever fought for anything for me?
It's one thing if they don't fight for anything for me, I don't care about that, but they actually used the fact that I'm a woman and a princess of the royal family, representing the dignity of the royal family, as a reason to no longer allow me to enter the army, trying to trap me within these deep palace walls.
Sister... These people are utterly shameless and heartless.
So even if your sister understands and goes to Dajing for a marriage alliance, they won't appreciate your kindness; they'll just take it for granted, or even think it's an honor for you.
In a place like this, in a court like this, why would they need their elder sister to sacrifice herself for their future security and prosperity?
It's better for it to rot and stink like this.
Ultimately, this empire belongs to our father, to the civil and military officials. Whether the people are content or the court is stable, what does it have to do with us?
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