Mi primer marido después de la transmigración

Capítulo 163

"So, I agree." Before she could finish speaking, her cheeks flushed red, but there was also a sense of relief, a sweet ease. Unlike the trepidation she felt when agreeing to Shen Zexuan's request, this time, she simply said what she wanted to say, risking the rest of her life. No matter what the outcome, at least she had chosen according to her heart's desire.

I can't describe the expression on Shen Haoyu's face; perhaps there was an element of blankness. After a long while, Shen Haoyu slowly said, "Waiting for these words was too difficult." His voice was so soft as if he was afraid of disturbing this moment of sweetness, only to find out that it was just a beautiful dream.

Having received my permission, Shen Haoyu was about to pack his things and return home. Holding him back, who was acting like a child at the moment, I couldn't help but wonder how, given his temperament, he could possibly become the ruler of a country if Prince Qing were to unify Youjing Dynasty one day.

"I am nominally the Holy Maiden of the Golden Sparrow, and I cannot go back with you like this," I said. If I leave like this, the Golden Sparrow King will not let me go, and Zi Nuo will also suffer greatly.

Shen Haoyu's once bright eyes instantly dimmed. "Then I will go back and have my father write a letter to the King of Jinque Kingdom, asking for the hand of the Golden Sparrow Saintess as a gesture of peace," Shen Haoyu said softly, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "No matter what, I will bring you back."

Before King Jinque and Zi Nuo returned to Hanyue City, Shen Haoyu hurriedly left, leaving Bu Xi alone to take care of me. Gan Lin was somewhat puzzled by Shen Haoyu's hasty departure, but Bu Xi only said, "Master summoned me." Gan Lin didn't press the matter further.

It's not that I want to deceive them, but Shen Haoyu's identity really shouldn't be exposed at this time, otherwise it's uncertain whether he can return smoothly.

Zinuo finally returned. He had been a few months away and was even thinner and darker, but his charm remained undiminished. The sight of him walking briskly down the corridor, dressed in black with gray hair, stung my eyes and saddened my heart.

While he was working hard away from home, I rekindled my old flame, and even felt a faint sense of guilt about cheating on him. What exactly were my feelings for Zinuo? Seeing him again, even I couldn't quite figure it out.

Perhaps, possibly, if Shen Haoyu hadn't appeared, Zi Nuo wouldn't have had to wait ten or twenty years...

However, now that Shen Haoyu is here, Zinuo, you will still be my younger brother. As for whether you will acknowledge me as your older sister in the future, or whether you will hold any resentment towards me, I will accept it all.

Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 141

Chapter word count: 3488 Update time: 09-09-23 15:55

Just after the Mid-Autumn Festival, before Zi Nuo could even rest for a few days, King Jin Que received a letter from the Western Xia, requesting that a friendly non-aggression treaty be signed with Jin Que.

Regarding the letter from Western Xia, the court was divided into two factions. One faction argued that Western Xia intended to use the peace treaty to restrain Jinque, allowing it to grow powerful independently. They believed that once Jinque was strong enough, the treaty would cease to be a treaty, and therefore, it should not be signed. The other faction argued that Jinque had always valued peace, and since Western Xia had this intention, it should consider the well-being of its people. Even if the treaty might become meaningless in the future, strength determined success or failure. As long as Jinque was strong enough, it would not fear Western Xia's invasion; refusing to sign would only give Western Xia ammunition for criticism.

The courtiers argued for several days, but King Jinque remained indifferent and watched coldly until the imperial edict ordering Zi Nuo to go to Qiuyang Valley to sign a peace treaty with the Western Xia envoy was issued, at which point the controversy ceased.

Why go to Qiuyang Valley? Because it was a place designated by the Western Xia.

Having learned that Zinuo was going to Qiuyang Valley, I had a pretty good idea of who would be negotiating with him.

However, such a major event as signing a peace and friendship treaty with Jinque must have been planned by Xixia for more than a day or two. Why didn't Zinuo and the others mention it when they were in the northern frontier? Now that they have just rested, they are going to the north again. Isn't this just making things difficult for Zinuo?

Zi Nuo was extremely unwilling, saying he wanted to stay with me and that the peace negotiations could be handled by someone else. I knew that Zi Nuo had been away for four months at a time this year, more than half the year had passed, and the antidote for the Immortal Master was still not ready. This trip north would take an unknown amount of time, and a round trip might not even take until the end of the year. To be pessimistic, I might not even still be alive by the end of the year, and he feared that when he returned, we would be separated forever. Although everyone didn't say these things, they all knew them in their hearts, and even Chu Chen was much more attached to me than usual.

In the end, however, Zi Nuo still went to Qiuyang Valley. I had intended to go with Zi Nuo, perhaps to see Huangfu Xuan and Lin Zhao one more time, or perhaps the last, but Xi strongly objected, and I wanted to wait for news from Shen Haoyu, so I stayed in Hanyue City. Counting the months, it will be a year from now, and it feels like there's too little time, yet so much I want to do. If Shen Haoyu hadn't appeared, even if I had regrets, I wouldn't have so many worries.

When Zi Nuo arrived at Qiuyang Valley, the person sent by Xixia was indeed the seventh prince, Huangfu Xuan. In many wars with Xuan Ying, Huangfu Xuan was the prince with the highest popularity and the most military achievements. He was the most likely candidate to become the next king of Xixia. Moreover, he had the full support of his two older brothers, the third prince Ye and the fourth prince Tun, making it difficult for other princes to catch up with him.

When Zi Nuo saw Huangfu Xuan and Lin Zhao, his surprise was no less than mine. In fact, Zi Nuo had spent much more time with them than I had. However, Zi Nuo himself had now become the regent prince of Jinque, and after his initial astonishment at Huangfu Xuan's identity, he could only sigh at the unpredictability of life.

Old friends reunited, and the negotiating table became even more lively, perhaps even more sincere in the negotiations, with all matters discussed very smoothly. However, this year was destined to be a turbulent one, which could also be called the prelude to a peaceful era. Before the peace talks in Qiuyang Valley were completed, Prince Youjing's betrothal gifts were brought to Jinque by Prince Qing. He said that after Princess Hexiang's death, because Princess Luoli did not approve of the men of Youjing, Princess Ziling had to be sent as a hostage to Jinque, and the marriage was suspended. Now, in order to show the sincerity of peace, Youjing came to ask for the marriage of the Holy Maiden of Jinque, hoping that the marriage could continue.

Prince Qing's move stirred up a storm, with the people of Jinque Kingdom buzzing with discussion. A princess should be chosen for a political marriage, but Luo Li had already married, and the kingdom already had Princess Luo Yan; there was no way the Holy Maiden could be chosen. That being said, if Princess Luo Yan were truly sent for a political marriage, they feared they would be reluctant to let her go—wasn't Luo Li a prime example?

Upon hearing the news, Zi Nuo rushed over from Qiuyang Valley, accompanied by Huangfu Xuan. Since the negotiations were not yet complete, Huangfu Xuan could not return home and wanted to visit an old friend. This was Huangfu Xuan's explanation.

Shen Haoyu and Huangfu Xuan were both settled in the guesthouse. For his own reasons, the Golden Sparrow King did not allow the two to meet for the time being. I dare not imagine what it would be like if they did meet.

In the courtyard, Zinuo said, "Sister, I won't let you marry Youjing."

Looking at Zinuo's haggard face, worn from yet another day of travel, my heart was filled with mixed emotions. Could I tell him that I had agreed to Shen Haoyu's marriage proposal? What an irony that would be for Zinuo. But could I also righteously declare, "For the sake of peace between our two countries, I am willing to marry him"? How grand and noble it sounds, yet I simply couldn't bring myself to say it; what an insult that would be.

I had imagined this scene when I agreed to Shen Haoyu's request, but now that it's here, I can only look at Zinuo in silence.

I think the person I least wanted to hurt was the one I hurt the most. But things in life are rarely perfect, and since I've made my choice, I have to bear some of the guilt.

King Jinque summoned me to the palace. Inside the Taiji Hall, which I knew all too well, King Jinque was not as cheerful as before; instead, he scrutinized me with a thoughtful expression.

"Why is Prince Qing requesting a marriage alliance at this time?" King Jinque asked, though it was unclear whether he was asking me or himself.

But since it was just him and me in the hall, I couldn't remain silent: "The king knows better than anyone that if Jinque and Xixia form an alliance, then Youjing, which is plagued by internal strife, will be in grave danger." It was a coincidence that Xixia requested peace talks before Prince Qing proposed marriage, but it also provided Prince Qing with an obvious reason for proposing marriage.

The Golden Sparrow King shook his head and chuckled, but the look in his eyes sent shivers down my spine.

"Why is it you, not Luo Yan?"

"Perhaps she's afraid of encountering another awkward situation like Princess Luoli," I replied cautiously.

"Although the Holy Maiden Qingqiu has never been in the limelight, anyone with a brain knows what abilities she truly possesses. Prince Qing's so-called marriage proposal is actually an attempt to undermine me." The Golden Sparrow King's words made my heart sink. It seemed that even such a blatant marriage proposal was unlikely to end well.

"As for why Luo Chen wants to get rid of you, it is naturally for the same reason, but it is not to harm my Golden Sparrow, but only to harm Luo Yang."

I looked at the Golden Sparrow King with shock and anger. He knew everything, yet he let me be in such danger. He was truly despicable. Perhaps he was even happy to see it happen.

"I will not stop Luo Chen, firstly to test your abilities, and secondly, if this can make Luo Yang give up, it wouldn't be a bad thing. However, if I allow you to go to Youjing, there's no guarantee you won't become a threat to my Golden Sparrow in the future. Since your days are numbered, you should continue to be my Golden Sparrow's Holy Maiden in peace." After saying this, the Golden Sparrow King rang the small golden bell, and someone came in and took me out.

The sun outside was blindingly bright. I raised my hand to shield my eyes, feeling utterly ironic. How could I have been so naive, thinking the Golden Sparrow King would be such a wise and benevolent ruler? In the end, he was just a feudal emperor, incapable of truly caring for the people. All he did was employ more sophisticated and far-reaching methods to win hearts and minds than others; what he wanted wasn't genuine peace, but peace under his control. If I went to Youjing, and Youjing became as powerful as the Golden Sparrow, he wouldn't accept me. But perhaps he overestimated me too much. What ability do I possess?

Are we just going to let the Golden Sparrow King do as he pleases and wait to die in these fortified strongholds?

Back home, I was still able to move freely, but Zi Nuo was forbidden from coming to the mansion to see me again, on the grounds that he should avoid suspicion. Regardless of the outcome of the marriage alliance, Zi Nuo could not have contact with me during this period.

I believe the Golden Sparrow King will tell Zinuo that he will never allow me to go on this marriage alliance (and he truly will not). Zinuo will come to see me again after Youjing's people leave. But, when that time comes, will I still be alive to see them again?

We cannot sit idly by and wait for death. We cannot abandon Shen Haoyu, nor can we allow ourselves to be controlled by others. Having finally mustered the courage, how can we give up now?

Only Gan Lin was by my side. I found Gan Lin and told her what the Golden Sparrow King had said that day: I needed help. I couldn't easily contact people myself, but Gan Lin could always help. Originally, I didn't care much about how long I had to live. The Golden Sparrow King's words chilled me, but I wouldn't necessarily rebel. After all, I was going to die anyway. But now, there was still Shen Haoyu. Even if I only had a few days left to live, couldn't he give me those few days of happiness?

After hearing this, Gan Lin clenched his fists and said hatefully, "Emperors are truly all bad."

"You... you hope that King Jinque will agree to King Qing's request, right?" Gan Lin suddenly asked again, a hint of loneliness and bitterness in his eyes.

This person is so sensitive; he can always pick up on the slightest clue. "I just want to be willful this once."