Chapter 587 - 587: Perfection
At sunset.
Xiao Zhonghua knelt on the cold floor of the imperial study. “Father, I don’t agree to the marriage!”
Recently, Emperor Jing Xuan had been furious and his temper could not take it anymore. “Who are you to agree to my actions? Don’t think that you can disregard me just because you’ve contributed to wiping out the White Lotus Society. I’m the Emperor! Everything I do is for the country and the people!”
“Then must we sacrifice your daughter?”
Xiao Zhonghua was not as excited as him, but the sadness in his eyes was like a sharp sword stabbing into Emperor Jing Xuan’s organs.
Emperor Jing Xuan said angrily, “This is her life as a princess! Besides, Western
Jin is a powerful country. How can she be wronged if she marries into the Western Jin?”
The two of them did not mention which princess they were marrying off at all, but they already knew tacitly who the chosen one was.
In terms of looks, Princess Hui An was the number one beauty of the royal family.
Princess Jingning’s beauty was too mediocre. Indeed, if the Great Zhou was willing to give away the fate of a country, the Western Jin would not mind that Princess Jingning was not beautiful enough.
But could Emperor Jing Xuan bear to do so?
Xiao Zhonghua looked straight into Emperor Jing Xuan’s eyes. “Then may I ask
Father, who do you plan to let Hui An marry? Is it the old Emperor of Western Jin or the Eldest Prince of Western Jin who already has a first wife? It can’t be for the princess of Western Jin, since I’ve never heard of the princess’s preference for women.”
Listen, what nonsense was this kid saying!
Emperor Jing Xuan said angrily, “This is none of your business.”
Xiao Zhonghua said, “Hui An is my sister.”
Emperor Jing Xuan was furious. “You only remember that she’s your sister, but do you still remember that I’m your father!”
Xiao Zhonghua said, “Hui An didn’t do anything wrong.”
Emperor Jing Xuan was even angrier. Why was this son so ignorant?
His son, who had once been the most obedient and knew how to make him happy, was getting better and better at poking his lungs!
Emperor Jing Xuan looked at Xiao Zhonghua with a deep gaze. “Are you implying that I was wrong? Do you know that Northern Yan’s reconciliation team is already on the way to the Western Jin? Once Northern Yan and Western Jin have a marriage alliance, our Great Zhou will be attacked from both sides!”
Xiao Zhonghua said calmly, “Then Father should send a smart person over. Hui
An is so stupid. She’s not capable of pillow talk or sowing discord between
Northern Yan and the Western Jin.”
“You…” Emperor Jing Xuan gritted his teeth.” Is that how you talk about your sister? ”
How could he not know that his daughter was stupid?
He was not the only sending Hui An to the Western Jin.
There were many powerful strategists in Hui An’s dowry group. He would also arrange for maidservants with both beauty and skills. Moreover, the Great Zhou would take the opportunity to insert a group of secret guards and spies into the Western Jin.
Hui An only needed to be a vase quietly.
Xiao Zhonghua said seriously, “Father, the White Lotus Society has been eliminated. There’s no internal trouble. Our Great Zhou can do our best to deal with the external threats.”
Emperor Jing Xuan said coldly, “Is her life more important, or the lives of the soldiers and commoners of the three armies? To think that you still want to be the emperor. What do you think the emperor is? Not to mention a princess, even if I have to sacrifice a prince, as long as I can avoid the flames of war, I won’t hesitate!”
After coming out of the imperial study, Xiao Zhonghua saw Jing Yi, who had been waiting for a long time.
“Jing Yi.”
He spoke softly.
Jing Yi walked forward. “What did His Majesty say?”
Xiao Zhonghua said calmly, “He has made up his mind to send Hui An to reconcile.”
Jing Yi frowned.
Although he did not have deep feelings for his cousin, he did not want her to marry far away in the Western Jin.
The Western Jin used to be on par with the Great Zhou, but as the Great Zhou’s flames of war continued, the treasury was depleted, and the country’s strength was weak. It was far inferior to the Western Jin.
If Hui An married over, it could be seen that she would suffer.
Xiao Zhonghua said coldly, “There’s only one way to stop Father now. Find the imperial edict that MO Guiyuan mentioned and use it as a threat to take back Father’s order.”
At the mention of this, a strange expression flashed across Jing Yi’s handsome face. “But we searched the peach forest but didn’t find the imperial edict. Could it be that the imperial edict doesn’t exist at all? Was MO Guiyuan scaring us at that time?”
“No, I’m sure there’s an imperial edict.”
Xiao Zhonghua believed in his judgment.
Jing Yi asked, “Is there anything else we haven’t found?”
The peach forest was so big. It was not impossible.
Perhaps the imperial edict was not in the peach forest at all… Xiao Zhonghua said thoughtfully, “Have you caught MO Guiyuan’s deputy, Zhang Feng?”
Jing Yi shook his head. “No, he escaped. Could he have taken the imperial edict away?”
Xiao Zhonghua said solemnly, “You must find this person in private. Don’t alarm others.”
JingYi agreed. “Got it, Cousin.”
In the Protector Duke’s Estate, in Su Xiaoxiao’s room, Princess Hui An was abnormally quiet. She did not cry or complain
Others always said that she was stupid, but she was actually not stupid.
In the past, she used to abuse her power in the palace because her father supported her.
Now, the person who had personally sent her to her death was her father. She had lost her backing. No one would spoil her anymore.
Princess Jingning comforted her for once. “Don’t be dejected. He hasn’t announced it to the world. Perhaps Father WII change his mind.” “Princesses, it’s getting late. It’s time to return to the palace.”
Outside the door, the young eunuch urged.
“Let’s go,” Princess Jingning said.
Princess Hui An stood up unhappily and left the house with her. “Jingning, can you tell Father to let me set off later?”
Princess Jingning asked kindly, “After Miss Qin’s wedding?”
Princess Hui An slowly nodded. “I want to send my sidekick to get married and let Brother Ting know that she’s under my protection. He’s not allowed to bully her! Actually, it’s not completely without benefits to marry into the Western Jin. She likes to cause trouble so much that she has offended half of the people in the capital. When I become the favorite concubine of the Emperor of Western Jin in the future, no one will dare to seek revenge on her.”
“She…” Princess Jing Ning wanted to say that since she was so capable, it was more likely for her to seek revenge from others.
Also, did she become the doted concubine of the old emperor of Western Jin to protect her little sidekick?
Princess Jingning said softly, “Got it. Let’s go back to the palace.”
“Princess Hui An.” Su Xiaoxiao chased after her.
“What?” Princess Hui An wiped her tears and turned around, looking at her proudly.
Su Xiaoxiao looked at her steadily. “You won’t marry.”
In the Imperial Study, just as Xiao Zhonghua left, Prime Minister Guo came to see him again.
Emperor Jing Xuan left him hanging for a while before getting someone to call him in.
“It’s so late. Why did Minister Guo enter the palace?”
Prime Minister Guo cupped his hands and bowed. “Your Majesty, I’m here for the marriage.”
Emperor Jing Xuan said calmly, “Do you also want to persuade me not to send the princess off?”
Prime Minister Guo said sincerely, “No, I support Your Majesty’s decision. With the current strength of our Great Zhou, we do need to recuperate and bring peace for a few years. The people of the world will be grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness.”
Emperor Jing Xuan sighed. “Minister Guo understands my difficulties.”
Prime Minister Guo continued, “However, it’s really not my wish to make His
Majesty lose his beloved daughter.”
When Emperor Jing Xuan heard this, he paused and finally looked at him. “Oh?”
Prime Minister Guo said, “I’m willing to let my granddaughter, Lingxi, go to the marriage ceremony on behalf of the princess!”