The cuju match ended.

Great Jin won against the envoy team with a score of six to three.

The Emperor was greatly pleased, immediately bestowing many rewards and granting a banquet.

At the banquet, the Empress called Princess Guli to her side and said with a smile: “The Princess is in her prime at sixteen, truly a woman’s best age. This palace is very fond of you, Princess. Why not stay in our Great Jin?”

Princess Guli had come on this trip bearing a mission—to marry into Great Jin and preserve friendly relations between the two nations.

She nodded: “Guli also very much likes the Empress.”

“What do you think of Prince Pingxi?” The Empress pointed to Chu Yi, who was speaking with others at the banquet. “He’s twenty-five this year. Older men know how to cherish people, and he will surely be a good husband in the future.”

Princess Guli lowered her head. Just as Prince Gongxi had said, the Empress wanted to grant her a marriage with Prince Pingxi.

She tentatively asked: “Your Majesty, may Guli refuse?”

The Empress was somewhat surprised: “Why is that?”

Although Princess Guli was not very old, she knew not to disparage Great Jin’s princes in front of the Empress.

She said nothing.

The Empress probed with great patience: “Among the countless men of Great Jin, is there truly not one who moves the Princess’s heart?”

“If I must choose one…” Princess Guli raised her head. “Prince Gongxi is quite good.”

The Empress’s heart sank.

Clearly yesterday at the banquet the Princess had regarded Third Prince quite favorably. How had her feelings changed today?

What had Second Prince done privately to make the Princess choose him?

“Guli, you don’t know—Prince Gongxi already has a primary consort.” The Empress’s face still wore a smile. “Prince Pingxi has yet to marry, and there are no women in his rear courtyard. If you marry him, you’ll be the only woman in the prince’s mansion.”

Princess Guli bit her lip and couldn’t help but say: “Even if Prince Gongxi has married a primary consort, he’s still better than Prince Pingxi. At least he wouldn’t be so wild as to have a son and daughter before marriage…”

Moreover, she had vaguely heard that Prince Pingxi had someone he loved, and for her sake had even fallen out with the imperial family. She didn’t know if it was true or false.

Noble Consort Yin, who happened to be walking over, heard these words and nearly lost her composure in anger.

Prince Gongxi already had a princess consort and a whole courtyard full of women in his rear palace, yet he still had the face to compete with her Yi’er for a wife!

This was Yi’er’s first time agreeing to marry a princess consort, and yet Prince Gongxi had intercepted her!

“Princess Guli, you’ve misunderstood!” Noble Consort Yin took a breath. “The word ‘wild’ could be applied to anyone, but absolutely not to Yi’er. For the nation, he donned armor and took to the battlefield, eliminating all the fierce bandits of Great Jin. For the people, he saved countless commoners. His only mistake was being schemed against and having children, but for their sake, he hasn’t married for many years. He’s an excellent father, and likewise, he will become an excellent husband.”

The Empress persuaded: “The Princess can take another look.”

She would rather the Princess marry Third Prince than have Second Prince gain such an advantage for nothing.

Although Second Prince had a primary consort, one secondary consort position was still vacant. If Princess Guli insisted on marrying Second Prince, she probably wouldn’t mind the position of secondary consort. After all, Hongnan Kingdom had long had the tradition of sisters serving one husband together.

Second Prince himself was already outstanding, Noble Consort Hui’s maternal family also had some power, and if they added Hongnan Kingdom’s military authority, they could completely contend with the Eastern Palace.

Princess Guli twisted her fingers tightly.

Originally, she had indeed liked warriors, but after encountering Prince Gongxi, she realized that gentle men could also move one’s heart.

But if she chose Prince Gongxi, she could only be a secondary consort.

As a dignified princess, becoming a secondary consort would truly shame the Hongnan Kingdom royal family.

“No rush.” The Empress spoke gently. “In any case, there are still several days before the envoys return. The Princess can think it over some more.”

Noble Consort Yin felt angry in her heart.

At the same time, she felt deeply sad for her son.

If this marriage didn’t work out, it would be difficult to get Yi’er to agree to marry in the future.

Would Yi’er remain alone for his entire life?

Noble Consort Yin said slowly: “Princess Guli, I have some delicious pastries. Come, let’s go taste them.”

She deliberately brought the Princess to Chu Yi’s side.

Chu Yi picked up his wine cup: “I’d like to say a few words to the Princess. Mother Consort, please excuse yourself for a moment.”

Noble Consort Yin’s expression relaxed. This boy still knew to get close to the Princess. This marriage should still be salvageable.

After Noble Consort Yin turned and went elsewhere, Chu Yi finally spoke: “I can see that if not for the friendship between our two nations, the Princess wouldn’t be willing to come speak with me. Is that correct?”

“Prince Pingxi is a smart person.” Guli proudly raised her chin. “If you were my beloved, I would be willing to raise children for you, but you’re not.”

“I understand.” Chu Yi nodded. “What the Princess means is that Prince Gongxi is your beloved, and therefore you’re willing to marry him as a secondary consort?”

Princess Guli’s cheeks suddenly flushed red.

She lowered her head somewhat shyly.

Chu Yi smiled faintly: “As far as I know, Prince Gongxi and his princess consort’s relationship is not harmonious. If the Princess marries him, perhaps one day you could become the primary consort.”

Guli abruptly raised her head: “Truly?”

Chu Yi nodded: “The Princess’s innocence is very much like my young daughter’s. If there’s anywhere I can help, the Princess need only ask.”

“I didn’t realize Prince Pingxi had such a broad and kind heart.” Guli smiled radiantly. “Then I, Guli, will make you my friend.”

This smile was clearly seen by Prince Gongxi in the distance.

He coldly drank a mouthful of tea.

Third Brother had always kept his emotions hidden, and would never normally try to please a woman. Yet for the sake of gaining Hongnan Kingdom’s power, he had gone this far.

This princess was truly foolish, actually being won over by Third Brother’s few words. Had she forgotten Third Brother had children? Had she forgotten Third Brother had someone he loved?

At this moment, Chu Yi and Princess Guli separated, and he walked toward Prince Gongxi, his face full of distress: “Second Imperial Brother, let’s have a drink.”

Prince Gongxi forced out a smile: “Third Brother, your happy occasion is near. Why are you so unhappy?”

“Father Emperor has elevated my marriage to a matter of national importance. For the sake of Great Jin, I have no other choice.” Chu Yi drank a cup of wine and sighed. “Second Imperial Brother, tell me—if I requested that my beloved and the Hongnan Kingdom princess both marry into the prince’s mansion on the same day, would Father Emperor agree?”

Prince Gongxi’s eyes flickered: “Princess Guli is the treasured pearl of Hongnan Kingdom’s king. Entering the household on the same day as another woman would likely cause friction with our Great Jin.”

“That’s true.” Chu Yi smiled bitterly. “Fortunately, my beloved is a reasonable person and is willing to yield. I hope Father Emperor can properly compensate her…”

Prince Gongxi’s five fingers slowly tightened.

Father Emperor had always doted on Third Brother. Recently, Third Brother had committed multiple acts of great disrespect, yet Father Emperor at most scolded him and had him beaten with a few boards before it was over.

Now Third Brother was giving up his beloved for the greater good and compromising himself to marry the Princess. Who knew how heartbroken Father Emperor would be over Third Brother’s sacrifice? Their father-son bond would surely transcend the propriety between ruler and subject…

If one day the Crown Prince fell from grace, Father Emperor would definitely give priority consideration to Third Brother.

Prince Gongxi’s expression was very dark.

If Third Brother marrying Princess Guli had already become a foregone conclusion, then he would make this foregone conclusion into a dead end.

Make Third Brother hate Father Emperor for life, shattering the father-son relationship so that possibility would never exist.