Chapter 169: Palace Banquet 2
The Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom gave Shen Xingnong a meaningful smile before withdrawing his gaze. His eyes concealed a sinister look. He had been searching everywhere for her for the past two days, but couldn’t find her. He couldn’t find where his younger sister was hidden either. It was infuriating!
At this moment, the song and dance performance just ended. Taking advantage of the break between dances, the Emperor raised his wine glass and said to the Zhao Kingdom envoy delegation with a smile, “You have all come from afar, it must have been a tiring journey! I offer another toast to all of you!”
Led by the Heir Apparent of Prince Xiang of Zhao Kingdom, the Zhao Kingdom envoy delegation raised their glasses in return.
The Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom raised his head and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. He said with a smile, “Your Majesty is too kind. This time, our ruler sent me here mainly to discuss the matter of your kingdom’s annual tribute to our kingdom. Also, our ruler intends to establish a marriage alliance with your kingdom, to build a lasting bond between our nations. Our Zhao Kingdom is prosperous and powerful, and your princesses and princesses will surely enjoy great fortune if they marry into our kingdom. I wonder which princess or princess Your Majesty intends to offer for this marriage alliance?”
After saying this, the Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom glanced at Princess Changle again, with a clear implication.
Then he pretended to casually glance at Chu Tiankuo, and found that Chu Tiankuo was looking at Princess Changle, his brows slightly furrowed.
He made up his mind.
Princess Changle it is!
He had already investigated. That vulgar princess was newly recognized by the Empress Dowager and came from a humble background. Although she was beautiful, if she was chosen for the marriage alliance and brought back to Zhao Kingdom, what if she blew her nose in front of the ruler?
As soon as the Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom finished his words, a single note from a zither that was about to sound suddenly disappeared.
A pin drop could be heard in the magnificent hall.
The ministers all looked towards the seating area where the princesses and princesses were.
The princesses and princesses all felt nervous.
The Eldest Princess had gone for a marriage alliance and had reportedly suffered three miscarriages in seven years. The Second Princess had also gone for a marriage alliance and had died on the way.
Now the ruler of Zhao Kingdom was proposing another marriage alliance!
No, it wasn’t a marriage alliance, it was more like bestowing a favor!
Judging from the Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom’s words, didn’t he mean that it was a favor for Chu Kingdom to send a princess to Zhao Kingdom, that she would enjoy great fortune by marrying there, so they had to send their best princess or princess?
Everyone felt indignant and looked at the Emperor.
Princess Changle noticed that the Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom’s gaze seemed to be fixed on her, and she was extremely anxious!
She had been so low-key, how did the Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom still notice her?
It was all because of that fool Shen Xingqing.
Princess Changle regretted it immensely. She should have brought her to the capital earlier for training.
A flash of sarcastic coldness appeared in Chu Tiankuo’s eyes, but he didn’t say anything this time.
Wen Ruiqing noticed the Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom’s gaze on his daughter, and his heart skipped a beat!
He absolutely couldn’t let Changle marry over there!
Princess Changle was the Empress Dowager’s precious darling. If she married over there, the Empress Dowager would definitely take her anger out on him.
As long as Princess Changle remained in the capital, the Empress Dowager’s protection wouldn’t diminish.
Moreover, he had hopes of marrying Changle to a prince and making her the future empress!
Furthermore, this daughter was much more considerate than his son. Regardless of the reason, Wen Ruiqing didn’t want to send Changle away for a marriage alliance.
But the Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom seemed to have taken a liking to her. What should he do?
Wen Ruiqing’s gaze fell upon Xingqing, seeing her only focused on eating, acting like she didn’t understand anything. She had even choked on water just now, almost embarrassing him! Fortunately, no one seemed to notice.
A look of disgust flashed across his face: Just like her mother, besides eating, she couldn’t help him with anything.
✿✿✿
If Changle was really chosen, he might as well let Xingqing take her place in the marriage alliance.
Being able to marry into Zhao Kingdom and become the Emperor’s consort would be a blessing for her.
The expression on the Emperor’s face didn’t change. He said with a smile, “The matter of tribute has already been prepared. As for the marriage alliance, my Eldest Princess has already been married to your kingdom. Isn’t this a bond that will last for generations?”
Prince Ding spoke up at this time, “Isn’t it just a little bit of tribute? That little bit of tribute is far less than the silver your princess owes to the people of our Chu Kingdom! The Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom is still so anxious? We’re talking about twenty million taels! Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom, you should quickly return the silver to us first! Twenty million taels! If we’re talking about tribute, your Zhao Kingdom would have to pay tribute to our Chu Kingdom for two hundred years to pay it off! Are you worried that we’ll owe you that tribute? Our ruler of Chu Kingdom has always been true to his word! A bet is a bet! We won’t shortchange you on the tribute!”
The Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom: “. . .”
He was bringing up the one thing he didn’t want to talk about!
He said calmly, “If Prince Ding wasn’t so unreasonable, demanding only silver and not silver notes, I would have already paid back the twenty million taels! Besides, I haven’t even seen my younger sister yet. Who knows if she’s been injured? If you want the silver, let me see my younger sister first!”
Prince Ding looked at Chu Tiankuo.
Chu Tiankuo said calmly, “Today’s palace banquet is a welcome banquet specifically for you. How could Princess Xiang of Zhao Kingdom be absent? I have already sent someone to invite her over, she should be here soon!”
At this moment, the voice of Zhao Luran, Princess Xiang of Zhao Kingdom, rang out from outside, “Is it my older brother who’s come to save me? I’m telling you lowly commoners from a lower country, my older brother is here, quickly let me go, or else I’ll have my father and older brother bring troops to trample your Chu Kingdom into dust!”
Princess Xiang of Zhao Kingdom had been confined in Welcome Inn, almost driven mad!
These days, apart from the people who delivered her meals on time, she hadn’t seen a single person, no one had spoken a word to her!
No matter how much she yelled or shouted, no one responded to her, treating her like air! If she continued to be locked up like this, she would go crazy!
And the palace maids who brought her out this time, they didn’t say a word the whole way. No matter what she said, what she asked them, they didn’t utter a single word! It was infuriating!
If she hadn’t seen them bring her into the imperial palace, guessed that the envoy delegation had arrived, she wouldn’t have dared to speak like this!
Her father was a God of War, invincible and ever-victorious!
Her older brother was even more talented, equally formidable!
Prince Ding was so angry that his beard bristled. He glared at the Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom, “Lower country? Commoners? When did our Chu Kingdom become a lower country to your Zhao Kingdom? Trample our Chu Kingdom? In that case, why does the Heir Apparent still talk about a marriage alliance and building a lasting bond? Send our Eldest Princess back! Let’s go to war!”
The other ministers were also displeased!
Although Zhao Kingdom was stronger than Chu Kingdom, they were being bullied at their doorstep. How could they not fight back?
Censor Lin said indignantly, “This is simply outrageous! Our Chu Kingdom is one of the four great kingdoms, when did we become a lower country to your Zhao Kingdom? Even if we pay tribute every year, it’s for the peace and stability of the people of both countries, for the diplomatic relations between our two countries, a gesture of courtesy. When did we become a lower country to your Zhao Kingdom? Doesn’t your Zhao Kingdom also pay tribute to Jin Kingdom every year? And the tribute lasts for a hundred years! Is your Zhao Kingdom a lapdog of Jin Kingdom?!”
“Even the strongest kingdom, Jin Kingdom, hasn’t dared to call our Chu Kingdom a lower country! Jin Kingdom and our Chu Kingdom are brotherly nations, treating each other with courtesy! A mere princess of Zhao Kingdom dares to claim that our Chu Kingdom is a lower country and threaten to trample us? Haha, do you have the ability?”
The Heir Apparent of Zhao Kingdom’s face turned a bit ugly. These words could be said privately in Zhao Kingdom, but how could his younger sister say such things in the imperial palace of Chu Kingdom, in front of the ruler of Chu Kingdom?
Such disrespectful words put them at a disadvantage again!
He immediately stood up and apologized, “My younger sister is being rude. She must have said those angry words out of frustration after being confined for so long. I hope Your Majesty and everyone present will not take offense!”
