☆、226, a trip with ulterior motives, a provocation!
Fenyan's expression changed slightly, and she said softly, "I can understand Princess Chen's feelings right now, but this matter is not entirely hopeless. After all, this matter has not been exposed yet, so there may still be a solution."
Ouyang Yue's lips curled slightly: "Oh, what do you think Consort Fen might do? That's a princess of the Great Gan Dynasty, and the eldest legitimate princess at that, as well as the younger sister of the eldest prince Jiang Qi. Jiang Qi is the most likely to seize the throne of the Great Gan Dynasty. In the future, Princess Jiang Xuan will be the eldest princess who surpasses all the princesses of the Great Gan Dynasty, and she is no less than the deceased second prince Baili Jing. Moreover, there is one thing that the second princess cannot compare to Jiang Xuan in, and that is that she does not have the status of the eldest legitimate daughter."
Fenyan was stunned for a moment, initially taken aback, but quickly came to her senses.
So, while Crown Prince Baili Cheng holds the title of eldest son and is legitimate due to Empress Lin, he is not as rightful as the Third Prince Baili Zhi and the Seventh Prince Baili Chen. To put it bluntly, Emperor Mingxian's first wife was the deceased former Empress Bai. When Empress Lin first entered the palace, she was just a concubine. Later, she was promoted to Empress because of the Empress Dowager and her background. Compared to Empress Bai, she was not legitimate. To put it even more bluntly, in the parlance of an ordinary family, Empress Lin was just a second wife. If Baili Cheng hadn't been the eldest son, he wouldn't have been qualified to compete with Baili Zhi or Baili Chen for the position of Crown Prince.
If a legitimate princess like Jiang Xuan really insisted on marrying someone, even Emperor Mingxian would have a headache.
Fen Yan was taken aback: "Then Princess Chen, you're not planning to do anything? As women, we all understand the feeling of a husband not wanting to share with others. Princess Chen, you don't want to have a direct confrontation with Princess Jiang Xuan."
Ouyang Yue silently stared at the octagonal bronze incense burner in the corner of the hall, where incense was slowly burning. As the smoke rose from it, a cryptic smile played on her lips. Fen Yan, sensing something was off, asked, "Princess Consort Chen, what's going on?"
Ouyang Yue shook her head and said, "Fenfei also said that this matter is only news she heard from Father. Since it hasn't happened yet, if we do anything in advance, it might be bad if Father finds out."
Fenyan nodded and said, "Your considerations are reasonable, but we still need to be cautious about this matter. Given Princess Jiang Xuan's status, if she insists on marrying Prince Chen, have you considered your own situation, Princess Consort?" Fenyan's concern was not without merit. After all, Jiang Xuan is the eldest legitimate princess, a true golden branch and jade leaf. Although Ouyang Yue's status is also very noble, in the eyes of outsiders, she is merely the daughter of Princess Shuangxia's adopted son, with no blood relation to her. When Princess Shuangxia secured a princess title for Ouyang Yue, it was somewhat far-fetched. If it weren't for the Emperor's consideration for the princess, he probably wouldn't have agreed at that time. Princess Mingyue of Ouyang Yue is not truly legitimate, and in terms of true nobility, she is at least a step below Jiang Xuan. If Jiang Xuan insists on marrying Baili Chen, the eldest legitimate princess, you can't expect her to willingly become a concubine, can you? I'm afraid Ouyang Yue's position as the principal wife will be in jeopardy.
Of course, Fenyan understood Ouyang Yue's confidence. She was currently four months pregnant, and as the eldest son of the Prince of Chen's family and the eldest grandson of Emperor Mingxian, she had a powerful connection. Even if Jiang Xuan truly harbored such intentions, it would be difficult for her to displace Ouyang Yue and become the primary consort. However, this was contingent on Ouyang Yue successfully giving birth to Baili Chen's eldest son. If anything unexpected happened, or if there were any maneuvering, Ouyang Yue would only have the possibility of yielding her position to Jiang Xuan.
Ouyang Yue smiled and looked at Fen Yan, saying, "I understand that Consort Fen is concerned about me, but Princess Jiang Xuan has only just entered the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the banquet is just around the corner. It would be difficult to come up with a solution now, so it's better to let things take their course and think of a solution when it really happens."
Fenyan nodded and couldn't help but sigh: "It seems that this is the only way now. After all, I am in the same boat as you. To put it bluntly, we have a mutually beneficial relationship. I am the last person who wants Princess Jiang Xuan to come and ruin things."
Ouyang Yue did not continue the topic, but said, "Is Consort Fen in good health recently? She is almost six months along now, and in four more months she will be due to give birth. Although the baby's position is stable, we still have to be careful, as the imperial physicians are all trusted."
Fenyan nodded knowingly: "I understand Princess Chen's concerns. I have already dealt with a group of people in my Liuhua Palace. Now, apart from the Emperor's people, they are all trusted confidants that I have cultivated. I am quite at ease. Princess Chen can also rest assured about the imperial physician, Physician Liu."
Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "Then this princess will just look forward to the birth of Prince Fenfei."
Pinky's eyes flickered slightly, and she laughed: "Is what Princess Consort Chen saying true? Do you really hope that I will give birth to a prince?"
Ouyang Yue nodded without hesitation and said, "Of course it's true. As soon as the prince is born, he will definitely receive more favor from the Emperor. You also said that we have a mutually beneficial relationship, so this can only benefit us and not harm us."
Fen Yan smiled faintly, gently stroking her belly: "The palace is currently in a three-way standoff, but in terms of power and strength, neither I nor Consort Sun are a match for the Empress. The most renowned one is the Crown Prince. Even if I were to give birth to a prince, he would be more than twenty years younger than the Crown Prince, and I probably wouldn't be qualified to compete with him. Prince Chen, on the other hand, is worthy of a challenge in terms of both talent and power. I wonder what Prince Chen's true intentions are. If I knew Prince Chen's true intentions, I could think about how to proceed in the future."
Fen Yan's words were understandable. If Baili Chen harbored ambitions to become emperor, Fen Yan might be wary, but at least she would have a powerful backer. Now, even though she had given birth to a prince, no matter how much Emperor Mingxian favored her, it was uncertain whether he would even watch the little prince grow up. Wouldn't Fen Yan then be at his mercy? While Fen Yan wasn't close to the Empress and wasn't truly an enemy, in the palace, even if you did nothing, gaining the emperor's favor meant offending the entire harem. There was no way around it. Fen Yan couldn't deliberately ruin this favor to avoid trouble; otherwise, everyone would turn against her, and she would suffer even more. Therefore, from the moment she gained favor, she was already a thorn in the side of the palace. It would be foolish for her not to consider her own interests; she certainly didn't want the crown prince to ascend the throne.
Ouyang Yue narrowed her eyes, seemingly pondering Fen Yan's words, and finally sighed softly, saying, "Your Highness, these words have put me in a difficult position, because the Prince has never said such a thing, nor does he have such ambition. If Your Highness were to think about it, this little prince might truly be a dragon among men." Ouyang Yue spoke leisurely, glancing at Fen Yan's belly, but she had already steered the conversation back to the topic.
Fen Yan was slightly taken aback, but then smiled and said, "It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I'm afraid I don't have the good fortune."
Ouyang Yue chuckled: "Consort Fen is too modest. No one would think you are not fortunate enough to have grown from a little beauty when you entered the palace to a Consort Fen who forms a three-way balance with the Empress in the palace."
Fenyan smiled sweetly: "Then I am honored by the auspicious words of Princess Chen."
Ouyang Yue smiled and suddenly pointed to the bronze incense burner, saying, "The fragrance in Liuhua Palace is wonderful. I wonder what kind of spices Consort Fen used. I find the smell very pleasant."
Fenyan laughed: "Princess Consort Chen is indeed perceptive. Before, because of Consort Sun's framing, Consort Yun and I suffered. After that, when the Empress Dowager heard about this, she ordered the Empress to have Lanhe make a new formula, which is most suitable for pregnant women to burn. It is only for removing the smell. Princess Consort Chen can try it if she likes it."
Ouyang Yue looked at Fenyan with some strangeness: "Although Consort Sun was the mastermind, the Empress did not seem to be without such intentions. Does Consort Fen really trust her so much? You should give birth to this child safely."
Fenyan smiled smugly: "Princess Consort Chen is right. So I had someone study this incense carefully. Not only is it non-toxic, but it is also non-toxic when mixed with various spices and herbs. It will not harm my body. Moreover, this is an order from the Empress Dowager. If I do not obey, wouldn't I give people something to talk about?"
"So it's the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is so kind and benevolent, then Consort Fen can rest assured." Ouyang Yue's face softened, and her eyes curved slightly, mimicking Fen Yan's smile. "It's getting late. I wonder if Consort Fen is going to the banquet hall now?"
“Yes, that’s fine. It’s good to chat with Princess Chen for a while longer,” Fenyan nodded in agreement.
"Your Majesty, the sweet soup His Majesty ordered will have to wait a while, what do you think?" At this moment, the maid beside Fenyan hesitated for a moment, but finally mustered up the courage to speak.
Fenyan was taken aback and said with a slight surprise, "Look at my memory, I really forgot. Princess Consort Chen, it seems we can't travel together. I'll have to wait a while."
Ouyang Yue nodded repeatedly: "Father Emperor is too kind. Then this princess will take her leave first and wait for Consort Fen in the main hall."
“Okay.” Fenyan nodded. Chuncao and Dongxue had already helped Ouyang Yue leave. But after thinking for a moment, she couldn’t help but say, “Princess Consort Chen, actually before you came here, I had thought of a way to get out of this predicament. But it seemed that Princess Consort Chen didn’t want to, so I didn’t say anything. But I think it’s a good idea. Princess Consort Chen, why don’t you listen to it and make your own decision?”
Ouyang Yue paused, slowly turning her head. Fenyan sighed softly, "I've heard Princess Jiang Xuan is quite arrogant. As the most beautiful woman in the Great Gan Dynasty, she has been deeply knowledgeable in poetry and literature since childhood, truly a rare woman of exceptional talent and beauty. During the selection of the most beautiful woman in the Langya Continent, because all the countries tacitly agreed not to let their princesses participate, Princess Jiang Xuan didn't come. But it's rumored that she was the most popular choice in the Great Gan Kingdom. With such arrogance, do you think she would choose Prince Chen if he were surrounded by beautiful women and concubines?"
Ouyang Yue's expression changed, and her eyes darkened slightly: "Does Consort Fen mean that if the Prince takes more concubines into the manor and favors them in different ways every day, he will give up Princess Jiang Xuan's idea?"
Consort Fen sighed, "Princess Consort Chen, please don't be angry. I'm only doing this for your own good. You know very well what happened to me. You also know how I entered the palace. Consort Sun was old and her beauty had faded, so she thought of using her beauty to win over the Emperor. In any case, Princess Consort Chen must admit that Consort Sun's method succeeded, didn't it? Although she suffered retribution, it was what she deserved. Only Princess Consort Chen knows how to win people over and how to use people's hearts. Not only can she win Prince Chen's heart forever, but she can also prevent Princess Jiang Xuan from choosing a husband. Perhaps this is a win-win solution."
Ouyang Yue's expression remained calm, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. "According to Consort Fen, this is indeed a good idea. However, I cannot make decisions regarding the Prince. Consort Fen has only recently entered the palace, but you must have heard of the Prince's arrogant nature. Anyone who offends him will suffer the consequences, no matter who it is. I dare not suggest such a thing. If Consort Fen is interested, perhaps you could start with the Prince? If it succeeds, I will thank you in return. I will not disturb you any longer." With that, she gave a slight bow and turned to leave.
Fenyan sat with her hand on her waist, turned to look at the palace maid: "Didn't you say the sweet soup was almost ready? What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go get it."
The palace maid responded crisply and went to fetch it. In the hall, Fenyan gently stroked her belly, her brows furrowing slightly: "Is it really that you don't want to? Does Prince Chen really have no ambition at all? This Xuanyuan Yue is also strange. Does she really think she can keep Prince Chen like this forever? It's perfectly normal for men to be fickle. I am also outstanding in appearance, but is there a lack of beauties like me in this palace? She will definitely regret it in the future."
As soon as they left Liuhua Palace and stepped onto the path leading to the main hall, Dongxue looked around and said, "Your Highness, no one is following us."
Upon hearing this, Chuncao said, "Your Highness, what do you think this Consort Fen means?" Her tone was quite unpleasant as she spoke, "Does she want to send women to the Prince? What can Princess Jiang Xuan do even if she comes? If the Prince doesn't want to, can she force him?"
Dong Xue's lips curled coldly, and Ouyang Yue's eyes narrowed slightly: "If Father Emperor wants, he can indeed force the Prince, but Father Emperor is not necessarily that foolish. For the sake of a princess from the Daqian Kingdom who has always harbored ambitions against the Great Zhou Dynasty, he would offend me. The Xuanyuan Army accounts for one-third of the Great Zhou's military strength, and Father Emperor also holds great military power. The combined strength of the two is roughly half of the Great Zhou Dynasty's military strength. Jiang Xuan's arrival may bring a short period of peace to the Great Zhou Dynasty, but if she were to act against me casually, the Great Zhou Dynasty might descend into chaos. Jiang Xuan doesn't have the ability to displace me from my position as a concubine." However, as she said this, Ouyang Yue's expression turned cold, because if Jiang Xuan were to truly be reduced to the position of a concubine, it would be difficult for her to refuse.
Chuncao and Dongxue carefully considered Ouyang Yue's words and said nothing more. This is why distant water cannot quench a nearby fire. Ouyang Yue now represents the greatest military power in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Although Jiang Xuan is the most noble princess of the Great Gan Dynasty, she only represents a princess, the younger sister of the eldest prince Jiang Qi, who is most likely to ascend the throne in the future. She represents the entire national strength of Great Gan, but it does not mean that she has the ability to command Great Gan or its army. Women in history are just cannon fodder. There has never been a woman who is capable of stopping a war between two dynasties. Jiang Xuan's marriage is meant to play a mediating role, but when this mediating role fails, a major war between the two countries will begin. At that time, regardless of Jiang Xuan's role, even her own life will be in danger.
On another note, now that Baili Chen has married Ouyang Yue and controls half of the military power in the Great Zhou Dynasty, even though he hasn't yet shown any intention of vying for the throne, does Emperor Mingxian truly have no reservations? If he were to marry Jiang Xuan and gain the support of the Great Gan Kingdom, then even if the Crown Prince had the most legitimate claim to the throne in the Great Zhou Dynasty, he would have no chance. As long as Baili Chen lives, the throne can only belong to him. With such a powerful force threatening him while Emperor Mingxian has no intention of abdicating, can he sleep soundly? Ouyang Yue had serious doubts about this.
According to Ouyang Yue's thinking, the purpose of Jiang Qi and Jiang Xuan's visit this time is still unclear and is only speculation. If Jiang Xuan really intends to marry Baili Chen, Emperor Mingxian has not agreed. And if she only wants to marry into the Great Zhou Dynasty, among the five princes currently alive, only two are suitable.
The first, naturally, is the Crown Prince, second only to the Emperor. As the heir apparent, barring unforeseen circumstances, he will rightfully ascend the throne after Emperor Mingxian's passing. The Third Prince, though the legitimate heir, has lost Emperor Mingxian's favor in recent years, spending three years in exile in a harsh, desolate region. This has led the court to lose hope in him, as those three years were precisely the period of the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince, Baili Jian's, most rapid advancement. Even if he had the will, he lacked the power and time. The Fourth Prince, Baili Chang, is needless to say; he is sickly, even weaker than Li Chen when he was poisoned. Coupled with his humble origins, some even doubt whether Baili Chang could last a hundred days as Emperor—it seems utterly impossible. The Seventh Prince, Baili Chen, has greatly increased his power after marrying Ouyang Yue, with the support of the Princess's Mansion and General Ouyang's Mansion. He is indeed powerful enough to rival the Crown Prince. However, Baili Chen has a major problem: he is too arrogant. Ever since his return from Wuhua Temple, the Emperor has spoiled him due to his illness, leading Baili Chen to act arrogantly. He has offended countless civil and military officials, and for a time, he received more than a dozen impeachments from censors every day. Baili Chen has a bad reputation in the court, and few people are loyal to him. Many people suspect that if Baili Chen were to become emperor, he would ruin the Great Zhou Dynasty. As for the Ninth Prince, Baili Mao, he used to be just a follower of the Fifth Prince. Although his power has increased and the Sun family has pledged allegiance, he is neither the eldest son nor the legitimate heir. For someone like Jiang Xuan, whose status is not quite right, Baili Mao, despite being a prince, is slightly inferior in status. It cannot be said that he is not a possibility, but the probability is not high.
After much thought, if Jiang Xuan were to marry into a foreign power, the most likely candidates would be the Crown Prince and Baili Chen. However, because Baili Chen had married Ouyang Yue, Emperor Mingxian would be extremely cautious about such matters. Even if Baili Chen, Jiang Xuan, and Emperor Mingxian all wanted to, most of the ministers of the Great Zhou Dynasty would not allow it.
Most likely, according to Ouyang Yue's idea, the marriage partner should be Baili Cheng!
As for what Fenyan said, it was a matter of being prepared for a rainy day. Things in the court are often unpredictable, and no one can say for sure or that anything is absolute! If a bunch of women were brought into the mansion at this time, it could indeed dissuade Jiang Xuan from marrying Baili Chen. However, Ouyang Yue was afraid that if she speculated on the emperor's thoughts like this, Emperor Mingxian would find a handle to hold against her and not let it go.
Dongxue hesitated for a moment, then asked doubtfully, "Your Highness asked about the scent of the incense in Consort Fen's Liuhua Palace earlier. Did you notice anything amiss? Should we summon the imperial physician to take a look?"
Ouyang Yue shook her head: "Since it was bestowed by the Empress Dowager, there shouldn't be any problems." Ouyang Yue smiled with narrowed eyes, but her face looked thoughtful. Seeing this, Chuncao and Dongxue didn't say anything more.
When Ouyang Yue returned to the main hall, almost all the guests had arrived. Baili Chen was already sitting in his seat in the Prince Chen's residence, waiting for Ouyang Yue. When he saw Ouyang Yue enter, he quickly stood up, but gave her a look and sat back down. Chuncao and Dongxue helped Ouyang Yue to sit down. Baili Chen hurriedly said, "There are many people and a lot of things to do in the palace. Why did you leave with only Chuncao and Dongxue?"
Ouyang Yue gently patted his hand on the table, saying, "I'm back now that I'm alright. But I did hear some news when I went to Liuhua Palace."
Baili Chen asked, "What is it?"
"Jiang Xuan's visit this time is probably for the marriage alliance." Baili Chen was not surprised by this. Otherwise, would a princess of the Great Gan Dynasty come all this way just for sightseeing? Ouyang Yue said softly, "What Consort Fen means is that Jiang Xuan came for you."
Upon hearing this, Baili Chen's eyes widened, turning red: "What! She dares!"
Ouyang Yue chuckled: "People are happy when something like this happens, why are you acting like you're about to fight them?"
Baili Chen, however, said with a stern face, "My lady, do you believe me? Anyone who dares to marry into the Prince's mansion, I'll cripple their leg. I don't want a second time like this." Just thinking about how Baili Zhi sent that maidservant to the Prince's mansion, causing chaos and leaving Ouyang Yue with a grudge, made Baili Chen want to vomit. He was serious; anyone who dared to ruin their relationship, whether she was a princess or the daughter of a court official, would be crippled or maimed.
Ouyang Yue squeezed Baili Chen's palm: "I know, as your wife, who else would I trust if I didn't believe you? Stop calling me, or people will laugh at you."
Baili Chen shook his head slightly: "What's so scary about it? It's good that they heard it, so they won't keep trying to take advantage of us. They're as annoying as shit."
Ouyang Yue chuckled softly, her eyes curving into two crescent moons. If this weren't the palace, and if this weren't under the watchful eyes of everyone, she would have loved to praise Baili Chen, give him a big kiss, and shower him with compliments on her beloved husband. These words were so sweet they touched her very heart. Under the table, Ouyang Yue gently unfolded Baili Chen's hand, surprising him slightly. Then he felt something soft and delicate, like silk, gently covering his palm, before slowly sliding down and tightening.
Baili Chen was stunned for a moment upon seeing this. Almost instinctively, his large hand tightened, and then his fingers intertwined with Ouyang Yue's fair small hand, inseparable. Baili Chen's heart stirred. It is said that the ten fingers are connected to the heart. This kind of holding made his heart skip a beat, and a strange feeling arose. Looking at Ouyang Yue, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes, and a deep affection, even a certain desire, flashed in his eyes.
Seeing this, Ouyang Yue blushed slightly. She just wanted to give him some encouragement, and she absolutely refused to admit that there was any invitation or affection involved. She couldn't help but glance at Baili Chen, only to see his eyes sparkle with affection.
"Ahem!" Just then, a spoilsport sound rang out. Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue both turned their heads to look over and saw that at the location of the Prince of De's residence, Prince De's heir, Baili Gan, was looking at the two of them with an embarrassed and somewhat dark expression.
Baili Chen frowned: "Why are you coughing for no reason? If you're sick, go back to your residence and take your medicine. Don't spread your illness to others. You have no morals."
Ouyang Yue clearly saw Baili Gan's lips move slightly, then twitch open. She could even see in Baili Gan's eyes that he wanted to reply: "You two are flirting in this kind of place, and you say I'm immoral? You're ten times more immoral than me. Tch, aren't you just trying to annoy me, all alone? How despicable!" Ouyang Yue looked at Baili Gan with amusement.
Baili Gan looked annoyed and glared at Baili Chen: "You two are practically glued together every day. What's wrong with spending a little less time together? It's really speechless."
Baili Chen rebuked Baili Gan as if it were perfectly natural: "If you can't stand it, why don't you just turn your head and not look? If you don't want to look, why are you staring at it? What are you up to? You can't have this kind of thing even if you envy it. There's only one Princess Chen in this world. You can't find a second one. You'd better not have this thought, otherwise, hmph!" Hey, you're clearly threatening me, aren't you?
Baili Gan's face darkened. Who would want a woman like Ouyang Yue? She was extremely beautiful, intelligent, and cunning, but wouldn't marrying such a woman shorten one's life? He was used to flitting among flowers, getting entangled with every one of them, and he didn't want to be tied down by a woman like Ouyang Yue. He would probably want to die if that happened: "Don't worry about that. No matter what kind of woman this young master takes a fancy to, he will never take a fancy to the Princess Consort of Chen."
Baili Chen frowned: "What do you mean? Do you think my princess consort is not good enough? Say it again!"
Baili Gan's face was contorted with bitterness. Well, he had brought this trouble upon himself. He knew perfectly well that Baili Chen doted on Ouyang Yue like the apple of his eye, yet he still had to interrupt. He was caught in a dilemma, unable to say anything positive or negative. Who could save him? Baili Gan gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with resentment as he looked at Ouyang Yue. But the latter was simply fiddling with her handkerchief, completely ignoring Baili Gan. Baili Gan chuckled, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding. This young master had absolutely no such intention. Prince Chen has misunderstood."
Baili Chen snorted: "You're smart, kid."
Baili Gan's forehead veins bulged. There was no reasoning with a muddle-headed person like Baili Chen. Don't get angry, getting angry will only harm your health. After thinking for a moment, he coughed lightly and said, "Have you heard what purpose this Da Gan envoy has in coming to the court?"
Both Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue tensed up and looked at Baili Gan: "I also heard from my father that Jiang Xuan is very likely a candidate for a marriage alliance."
Baili Chen and the other two lowered their voices: "Are you saying this because you have concrete information about who she's going to choose?"
Baili Gan shook his head, his expression unusually serious: "Father didn't mention this, but I feel that although Father didn't say much, this matter seems a bit strange. Although Da Zhou and Da Gan have a tradition of marriage alliances, it usually takes decades or more, rarely once every ten or five years. The last time was three years ago. If Jiang Xuan is really here for a marriage alliance, Da Gan is being a bit too hasty." A marriage alliance is not something that can be arranged casually.
Firstly, marriage alliances between two countries typically involved a princess as the bride, or at least a princess of a princely family or the daughter of a high-ranking official. Those arranged by imperial decree were bestowed the title of "Princess Yi," but each marriage required a distinguished lineage. The purpose of these marriages was often to solidify diplomatic relations, usually during times of instability, serving as a deterrent to foreign powers and domestic interests. This was not something to be done casually, like marrying off one's own daughter. Such events were rarely held only once every few years. Furthermore, princesses of each dynasty didn't spring from stone; if marriage alliances were guaranteed to have specific partners, wouldn't all the princesses of the dynasty be married off to foreign lands?
Therefore, such marriage alliances between friendly nations usually occur once every 30 to 50 years, or once every 100 years, and even once every 10 years is rare. The Great Zhou Dynasty had only recently arranged the marriage of a prince and a princess, and it had only been three years since then. There had never been a marriage alliance in such a short period of time before, so this matter was very strange.
Baili Chen frowned and said, "You mean, Da Gan has other purposes for coming to Da Zhou this time?"
Baili Gan nodded and said, "It's very likely, but even Father King can't be sure. He's just guessing. However, the news that Jiang Xuan wants to marry into the royal family is not unfounded. You and the Crown Prince are both very likely to be involved, so we should probably start preparing early." Baili Gan looked at Baili Chen meaningfully, but his gaze was mostly fixed on Ouyang Yue.
Ouyang Yue was now deep in thought. Combined with the information she had heard from Fen Yan earlier, it seemed that this matter was indeed true. However, everyone's information was different. Was it the Emperor deliberately spreading this rumor, or had they misunderstood, or was there another reason? Ouyang Yue then raised an eyebrow, looked at Baili Gan, and smiled gently: "In any case, I thank the Prince De's son for informing me."
A strange light flashed in Baili Gan's eyes. Ouyang Yue didn't seem genuinely worried. He shook his head and said, "Because I don't want Princess Jiang Xuan to marry into the Great Zhou. The Great Zhou is already in turmoil, with constant fighting. If another princess from another family comes, the capital will be even more chaotic. I don't have any grand ambitions. I just want to live out my life quietly. Jiang Xuan's arrival is an enemy to me."
Ouyang Yue smiled lightly, while Baili Chen frowned deeply: "Isn't there someone more suitable than me? That damned Jiang Xuan, if she dares to have any other thoughts, I will definitely not let her off!" His voice was icy cold.
"The Emperor has arrived! The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Empress has arrived! The Holy King of Miao Jiang has arrived! The Crown Prince of Da Gan has arrived! The Grand Princess has arrived! Kneel!" At this moment, the eunuch's shrill voice rang out, and the hall fell silent as everyone knelt down.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!" The Great Zhou court chanted, and then a group of people, led by Emperor Mingxian, slowly walked in from the inside of the hall.
Emperor Mingxian, clad in a noble, bright yellow dragon robe, strode out with extraordinary majesty. A pure gold crown, inlaid with pearls the size of a half-fist, shone with a subtle, luxurious radiance that captivated the eye. His imposing face and demeanor exuded an aura of quiet authority. Following him, the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager, both adorned in phoenix robes and crowns, displayed their impeccable bearing. The Miao King, however, wore his usual attire. But perhaps it was merely an illusion, the totem on his face appearing increasingly eerie, as if one glance was enough to draw the eye away.
Everyone had seen Jiang Qi, the eldest prince of the Great Gan Dynasty, when the Great Langya Continent was selecting the most beautiful woman. Today, he was dressed in a dark purple dragon robe, mysterious and noble. However, most of everyone's attention was focused on the woman who was slowly walking half a step behind Jiang Qi.
It is mesmerizing even from a distance.
The woman wore a flowing, smoky-blue gown that trailed on the floor, elongating her figure and highlighting her slender, graceful form. A gold sash with delicate kingfisher patterns cinched her waist, accentuating its delicate curves. With each step she took, her waist swayed gently, graceful and alluring. She appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, yet possessed a breathtaking beauty. Her eyebrows and eyes were like flowers, her delicate phoenix eyes captivating and alluring. Her skin was as white as snow, smooth and flawless, and a faint smile always graced her rosy lips. She was truly a rare and exquisite beauty.
Almost all the men in the hall were mesmerized. Even the Crown Prince, who was born in the palace and never lacked beauties, couldn't help but be moved. Beautiful, indeed beautiful!
This woman is none other than Jiang Xuan, known as the most beautiful woman in the Great Gan Kingdom. Her beauty is so stunning that she truly deserves the title of the most beautiful woman. Compared to Jiang Xuan, the concubines of the imperial harem who followed in the crowd all seemed rather lackluster. They were also beautiful, but they couldn't compare to Jiang Xuan.
Emperor Mingxian laughed heartily: "Very well, today I have specially held this welcome party for the eldest prince and princess of the Daqian Kingdom, and I am also very grateful for the presence of the Holy King of Miaojiang. Please, everyone, be seated." As he spoke, Emperor Mingxian reached out and took the Empress Dowager's hand, and then the Empress Dowager took her seat first, followed by the Empress, and then the Holy King of Miaojiang and the Daqian Kingdom's leaders took their seats on the left and right.
As he stepped down the steps, Jiang Qi smiled meaningfully and said, "It seems that the Holy King of Miao Jiang really likes the Great Zhou. After the selection of the most beautiful woman in Langya Continent, the Holy King of Miao Jiang was delayed for some time before returning. It hasn't been long since then, but he has come here again. I wonder what kind of person or thing in the Great Zhou can make the Holy King of Miao Jiang so happy that he doesn't want to leave?"
The bright red totem on Yu Xiaoyao's face seemed to come alive, changing slightly. Yu Xiaoyao turned to look at Jiang Qi: "Even if I told you, the Crown Prince wouldn't believe me, so why should I waste my breath?"
Jiang Qi's smile deepened: "If the Holy King doesn't tell me, how will I know whether I believe him or not? If there's anything interesting, perhaps I can help the Holy King make a decision."
Yu Xiaoyao immediately revealed a hint of sarcasm: "Then why did the First Prince come to Great Zhou? Was it just for a marriage alliance?" As he spoke, he glanced at Jiang Xuan walking behind them, his sarcasm deepening. "Such a peerless First Princess, would Great Gan be willing to casually use her for a marriage alliance? Perhaps it won't be long before she gets caught up in the struggles of Great Zhou and dies a violent death. If the Emperor of Great Gan hadn't suddenly gone mad, I don't believe he would do such an unreasonable and foolish thing."
Jiang Qi's face darkened, and he said with a forced smile, "I'm afraid the Miao King doesn't need to worry about that. Perhaps we've all come to the Great Zhou for the same purpose."
A glint of light flashed in Yu Xiaoyao's dark pupils, a darkness so deep it was chilling. Finally, he merely raised the corner of his lips slightly and smiled: "The purpose of this king and the eldest prince will definitely not be the same."
Jiang Qi smiled faintly: "Is that so? I don't think so." With that, the two of them turned around, separated to the left and right, and walked to their seats.