After most of the people in the great hall had arrived.
Following a sharp cry from a young eunuch, the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager walked in through the main entrance and sat in the highest positions. Everyone bowed in unison.
Immediately after, the various princes led the foreign envoys inside.
A total of eight small nations had sent envoys to pay respects to the court. Among them, three countries had arranged for princes and princesses to come—quite an imposing display.
The group greeted those seated in the highest positions in the Great Jin Dynasty’s national language.
“Everyone, there’s no need for such formality.” The Emperor’s face was full of smiles. “Please be seated. Taste the delicious food and wine of our Great Jin Dynasty and enjoy our songs and dances.”
A group of beauties dressed in alluring attire filed in and began playing music and dancing in the center of the great hall, bringing the atmosphere to its peak.
Yun Chu sat together with Duling.
After Duling had eaten her fill to about eighty percent, she pulled Yun Chu into conversation. “Did you see? That’s the princess of Hongnan Kingdom. I heard this princess came to our Great Jin Dynasty to select a husband, thereby continuing the friendly relations between Hongnan Kingdom and the Great Jin Dynasty.”
Yun Chu looked over. The princess wore bright red garments with a circle of snow-white fur around her neck. Her head was adorned with pearls and jade ornaments that didn’t look cumbersome at all, and actually revealed some of a young woman’s innocence and charm.
A man qualified to marry a princess from another nation would have to be at least from a meritorious noble family.
Yun Chu tried to recall but completely couldn’t remember who this princess had ultimately married.
In her previous life, she had truly devoted herself single-mindedly to being a virtuous wife and good mother, completely ignoring outside affairs. Ending up with such a fate was reasonable.
Just as she was thinking this, she felt someone staring at her.
Following the gaze, she met the Empress Dowager’s calm, cold eyes.
She curved her lips, revealed a smile, and raised her cup toward the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager gripped her cup tightly, suppressing her fury.
Last time at the Jinying Hall, if it hadn’t been for Chu Yi’s sudden appearance, her Rui’er would have already drunk Yun Chu’s heart’s blood, and his illness should have improved.
What a pity!
Truly such a pity!
The cup in her hand was nearly crushed. The Empress Dowager’s fury dissipated into the wine cup before she eased her tone and spoke. “Rui’er, what do you think of Princess Guli?”
Chu Rui only glanced once, his voice extremely indifferent. “Nothing much.”
The breath the Empress Dowager had finally managed to suppress rose again. She said coldly, “Princess Guli is the treasured daughter of the King of Hongnan. She came to the Great Jin this time to select a good husband for herself. If you marry Princess Guli, then the entire Hongnan Kingdom can be used by you.”
Chu Rui said nothing more, only lowering his head to drink tea.
If there weren’t so many people here, the Empress Dowager would definitely not be able to resist smashing the cup in her hand.
The legitimate grandson she had raised with her own hands, the child she had raised with mouthfuls of milk and blood—now he completely disregarded her.
What should be done with a child who had lost control?
Give up on him?
How could she bear to?
Was there anyone more suitable?
The Empress Dowager raised her wine cup and drained it.
She suddenly understood—no matter how unwilling she was, she could only give up.
If she waited until he died, then there would truly be nothing left.
Therefore! She must! Have Rui’er father a child before he dies! It doesn’t matter who he marries—what matters is leaving behind offspring so she can plan for greater things.
The Empress Dowager’s face was full of loving kindness. “Since you’re unwilling, then so be it.”
Chu Rui still showed no expression, sitting there alone drinking tea, as if he existed in a different world from those around him.
After the song and dance performance ended, Princess Guli requested on the spot to present a dance for the Emperor.
In her bright red dress and skirt, her head full of jingling pearls and jade, the young woman’s lively figure danced with exceptional exotic charm.
In the great hall, the eyes of many unmarried men from noble families were practically glued to the princess.
The princess held bells in her hands, quickly passing before those men, leaving behind a fragrance unique to Hongnan Kingdom.
When the song and dance ended, the Emperor laughed heartily. “I wonder what Princess Guli thinks of the men of my Great Jin Dynasty compared to those of Hongnan Kingdom?”
Princess Guli placed her hand on her chest and replied respectfully, “Great Jin men excel in beauty. However, in terms of physique and strength, they don’t match the warriors of my Hongnan Kingdom. But—”
She changed her tone, her shimmering gaze falling on a man in the great hall. “Of course, the Great Jin also has warriors. In him, I see the strength that belongs to the Great Jin.”
The person she was looking at was none other than Chu Yi.
“The princess has excellent taste. This is the Third Prince of our Great Jin Dynasty, Prince Pingxi.” A minister spoke. “Prince Pingxi has eliminated bandits throughout our Great Jin. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him the greatest warrior of the Great Jin.”
Princess Guli’s lips curved in a smile. “Prince Pingxi, a pleasure to meet you.”
Chu Yi cupped his hands. “Princess Guli, a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh my, she’s taken a fancy to Prince Pingxi.” Duling pulled Yun Chu close to whisper. “Right now the Fifth Prince is still young. The only prince of marriageable age is Prince Pingxi. If Prince Pingxi marries Princess Guli, then he’ll be evenly matched with Prince Gongxi.”
The Crown Prince had married the legitimate eldest daughter of the Grand Preceptor, his two side consorts were both legitimate daughters of second-rank officials, and he also had the power of the Empress’s maternal Gongsun family. No matter who Prince Pingxi married, he couldn’t compare to the Crown Prince.
Prince Gongxi’s principal consort was the second daughter of a Grand Academician. If Prince Pingxi married a foreign princess, his strength would be about equal to Prince Gongxi’s.
Yun Chu changed the subject. “When is Xiaoying’s wedding set for? I’ll go drink a cup of celebratory wine.”
“Ah—” Speaking of this matter, Duling sighed. “The wedding was originally set for next spring, but Xiaoying’s fiancé suddenly fell ill, and quite seriously too. We even had an imperial physician examine him. He said it’s very likely he won’t survive this cold winter.”
Yun Chu’s fingers paused. “Is it that serious?”
Duling nodded. “Perhaps Xiaoying is destined to have no marital fate. Forget it, that’s just how it is. The Du family can certainly afford to support a daughter.”
Xiaoying herself had taken a fancy to the Fourth Prince, and the Fourth Prince died.
The Du family had selected the son of the Vice Left Commander for Xiaoying, and it seemed he wouldn’t live long either.
Things destined by fate cannot be resisted by human effort.
Yun Chu spoke. “Have you consulted a divine physician?”
Duling shook her head. “We’ve written several letters to Qingzhou, but there’s been no response. Divine Physician Si has probably gone traveling.”
Yun Chu made a note of this matter. She would ask Madam Wu later to find out where Young Master Wu had gone with Divine Physician Si.
Speaking of Young Master Wu, Yun Chu felt very fortunate.
In her previous life, all the Wu family members had died from a strange illness. In this life, she had sent Young Master Wu to Divine Physician Si’s side early on. A few months ago, Young Master Wu had written saying that the afflictions on his face had gradually ulcerated and healed, and his body was gradually improving.
They say prolonged illness makes one knowledgeable about medicine. Young Master Wu had been ill for so many years and had some research in treating illnesses. After arriving in Qingzhou and living in Divine Physician Si’s medicine hall, being immersed in it day after day, he became increasingly knowledgeable in this area and gradually became obsessed. So Divine Physician Si kept Young Master Wu by his side as a disciple.
After the palace banquet ended, Yun Chu sent someone to the hot spring estate to ask Madam Wu about the situation.
Chu Yi stood on the steps of the great hall, watching until Yun Chu’s figure disappeared on the palace road.
At this moment, a charming young woman suddenly appeared before him. “Prince Pingxi, what are you looking at?”
Chu Yi’s expression was extremely cold.
However, when his peripheral vision caught Prince Gongxi, Chu Mo, appearing not far away, the corners of his cold lips curved into an arc resembling a smile. Only that smile didn’t reach his eyes at all as he spoke. “Princess Gu… what matter do you have?”
He really couldn’t remember whether this princess was called Guli or Guyue, so he could only gloss over it vaguely.