If it weren't for Shangguan Pian and Shangguan Jin's wedding, he probably wouldn't be in such good spirits to host this banquet today.
"Your Majesty, we thank you for your great kindness." Shen Lingyun and Yao Shan kowtowed together to express their gratitude.
The prince marries the daughter of the prime minister. The princess marries the son of the great general.
What may seem like an ordinary wedding has already revealed who holds the reins of power in the court.
Yao Shan and Shen Lingyun exchanged a glance, both looking shrewd and calculating.
Shen Qianmo sat not far from the main seat, a knowing smile on her face. Wouldn't it be interesting if these two old foxes found out that all their scheming had come to nothing?
"Father, I have something to ask of you." Shangguan Che lifted his white robe and walked gracefully to Shangguan Hao, kneeling down gently with a sincere attitude.
Yao Xuekong's expression was not very good. She glanced in the direction of Shen Qianmo, sighed, and did not stop Shangguan Che.
Shen Qianmo frowned. It seemed that Shangguan Che wanted to ask Shangguan Hao to grant him a marriage. He didn't expect that he would withstand Yao Xuekong's pressure this time. Wasn't he the one who listened to Yao Xuekong the most before?
This guy is really pathetic. She used to love him wholeheartedly and treat him well, but he treated her like trash, never appreciating her. Now, she completely disregards him, repeatedly making things difficult for him, yet he insists on marrying her, even turning against Yao Xuekong for her sake. How amusing.
"What does Che'er want to say?" Shangguan Hao's face was pale, but his expression was still loving, and his eyes looked at Shangguan Che with a gentle smile.
Now that Shangguan Ye is dead, the child of his beloved woman is dead, and the heir to the throne he favored is dead, it seems that the only option left is to choose an heir from among his remaining sons.
In terms of both talent and influence, there are only two candidates: Shangguan Che and Shangguan Jin.
"I wish to take advantage of the joy of my eighth brother and my sister Pianpian's marriage and ask Father Emperor to grant us a marriage!" Shangguan Che's gentle gaze swept across Shen Qianmo's face, and he said firmly, as if filled with infatuation.
Shen Qianmo smiled calmly, completely unconcerned about Shangguan Che's infatuated gaze. Shangguan Che's eyes held three parts sincerity and seven parts pretense, but she didn't care, because no matter what Shangguan Che did, he couldn't move her heart.
She didn't care at all about Shen Lingyun's excited eyes; she was already tired of seeing Shen Lingyun like this.
"I wonder which family's daughter Che'er has taken a fancy to?" Shangguan Hao smiled kindly and asked after hearing Shangguan Che's words.
"Che'er wants to marry the third young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion, Shen Qianmo!" Shangguan Che said gently but firmly.
As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes turned to Shen Qianmo.
The daughters of officials all cast resentful and jealous glances at Shen Qianmo. How could such an ordinary-looking woman marry the gentle and refined Shangguan Che?
The sharpest of them all was Yao Ruoqin's gaze.
Yao Ruoqin bit her lip in resentment, wondering what was so good about this woman that made Shangguan Che so devoted to her!
"Ruoqin, hasn't the Third Prince always been very close to you? Why would he want to marry the Third Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion?"
"That's right! This third young lady has neither talent nor looks, so why should she marry the third prince!"
The young ladies from official families who were usually on good terms with Yao Ruoqin chatted back and forth, their eyes revealing three parts contempt and disdain for Shen Qianmo, three parts sarcasm and ridicule for Yao Ruoqin, and the remaining four parts admiration and longing for Shangguan Che.
"Shut up, all of you! What do you know! The person Che-gege loves in his heart is me! Shen Qianmo is just relying on her status as the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family! Do you think Che-gege would fall for an ugly woman like her?!" Yao Ruoqin glared at the young ladies of the official families, lowered her voice, and said angrily.
The young ladies from official families immediately fell silent. Indeed, according to common sense, how could Shangguan Che possibly be interested in Shen Qianmo? This Shen Qianmo was not only ugly and unattractive, but also uneducated and incompetent. She had grown up in the mountains since childhood. How could Shangguan Che possibly like her?!
"So it's the Third Miss of the Prime Minister's Residence. Since Che'er is pleased, then I shall bestow this marriage upon you." Shangguan Hao's gentle gaze fell upon Shen Qianmo, and he then said with a smile, "I hereby declare that the Third Miss of the Prime Minister's Residence, Shen Qianmo, is dignified and virtuous, and is hereby betrothed..."
"Wait!"
Before Shangguan Hao could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a domineering and magnetic voice.
All eyes turned to the arrogant man who had interrupted the emperor.
He wore a striking red robe, his hair was as black as ink, and his exposed, smooth chest exuded masculine charm.
The newcomer wore an arrogant smile, appearing both wicked and flamboyant. His eagle-like eyes stared directly at Shangguan Hao without the slightest fear.
At that moment, everyone realized that this man in red robes should be the supreme ruler. Compared to him, the emperor sitting on the high throne seemed to lack any imposing presence.
"Who are you?! How dare you interrupt me?" Shangguan Hao was furious when he saw the person who came. No matter how good-tempered he was, he was still the emperor. How could he tolerate such disrespect, especially in front of all the civil and military officials?
The man's smile remained unchanged as he stood there. Just by standing there, he seemed to steal all the light. Even Shangguan Che, who was always hailed as the most handsome man, could not compare to him. He spoke with a light smile, his lazy voice full of domineering power, "Situ Jingyan."
Shen Qianmo, who was holding a wine glass and smiling leisurely with a hint of cunning and interest in her eyes, spilled the wine in her hand when she heard Mei Xue's words.
It turns out that Mei Xue is actually Emperor Tianmo, Situ Jingyan.
No wonder he cares so much about the political situation in Qi Yue Kingdom. No wonder he has such an imposing presence.
---Aside---
The male lead's other identity has finally been officially revealed.
Chapter 41 She is my Empress!
Situ Jingyan's gaze swept over Shen Qianmo's face, his smile deepening, before he looked back at Shangguan Hao.
"So it is the Emperor of Tianmo. May I ask what brings you here from so far?" Shangguan Hao smiled gently upon hearing Situ Jingyan's words.
The reason he didn't doubt Situ Jingyan's identity was twofold: firstly, Situ Jingyan's imposing presence was undeniable; secondly, it was impossible for anyone to impersonate the Emperor of Tianmo without reason; and most importantly, when Situ Jingyan introduced himself, he revealed the ring on his hand, which was a token of the Tianmo royal family.
"A marriage alliance." The brief words were full of domineering power, and the smile on his lips remained arrogant.
The young ladies of official families had long forgotten the disappointment that Shangguan Che's decision to marry Shen Qianmo had brought them. At this moment, their eyes were only on Situ Jingyan. This man was so handsome that he drove them crazy. If they could marry him, they would have no regrets even if they died.
Shen Qianmo's smile twitched again, and she looked at Situ Jingyan with a slightly questioning gaze. Situ Jingyan, however, only smiled slyly and did not take Shen Qianmo's questioning seriously at all.
"It's a good thing that the Emperor of Tianmo is willing to form a marriage alliance with my Qiyue Kingdom! I was just about to bestow a marriage upon my third son, and I will soon select a marriage partner for the Emperor of Tianmo." Shangguan Hao was overjoyed to hear that Situ Jingyan wanted to form a marriage alliance with Qiyue Kingdom.
Over the years, Tianmo Kingdom has maintained a close relationship with Linwei Kingdom. Shangguan Hao has always been worried that Tianmo and Linwei would join forces to deal with Qi Yue. Now that the Tianmo Emperor has taken the initiative to propose a marriage alliance, it is truly a windfall!