The beauty, with every move she made exuding unparalleled grace, pleased the Emperor greatly. "Excellent, excellent! I shall accept this token of goodwill from Fengming Kingdom," he declared.
Seeing the Emperor's satisfaction, Li Churan finally spoke, "This humble one has come, Your Majesty, first to congratulate you on your birthday, and second, to present a presumptuous request."
"Haha, speak freely," the Emperor replied heartily, his gaze still fixed on the departing beauty.
"Since arriving in your esteemed country, I have been accompanied by Assistant Minister Zhao, and have thoroughly enjoyed experiencing your nation's customs and scenery. I greatly admire Assistant Minister Zhao. I hope Your Majesty might grant me a favor and bestow him upon me as my consort." Li Churan finished speaking, glancing at Qiao Ci opposite her, seemingly expecting to see a flicker of shame or annoyance in her eyes. She saw nothing.
The Emperor's expression revealed neither pleasure nor displeasure. He turned to Zhao Shimei and asked, "What are your thoughts on this, Minister Zhao?"
Zhao Shimei rose, bowed respectfully, and then said, "This subject also holds affection for the Grand Princess of Fengming Kingdom and hopes Your Majesty will grant our union."
The Emperor gave him a look of unfathomable meaning before bursting into laughter, "You two have long harbored mutual affection. How can I be the villain who tears lovers apart? Granted!"
"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace."
"Thank you for the Emperor's favor."
Zhao Shimei detected the Emperor's displeasure in his tone. He rose with trepidation, his heart filled with unease.
Upon considering that he would settle in Fengming Kingdom from now on, he gradually felt at ease.
What did it matter if the Emperor was displeased? The emperor was far away, and in the future, he wouldn't even be his emperor.
He sat down with a clear conscience. While Li Churan was not paying attention, Zhao Shimei secretly glanced towards Qiao Ci. He saw her with her eyes lowered, speaking to the youth Li Su. He wondered what Qiao Ci felt, knowing his father was bestowing his former consort upon a princess of another country.
Disappointment tinged his gaze as he shifted his attention back, only to meet Li Churan's displeased eyes. Zhao Shimei offered a few awkward laughs to cover his embarrassment.
After a moment, Li Churan stood again, "Your Majesty, this humble one was so caught up in matters of the heart that I failed to mention one thing."
"Speak," the Emperor's expression grew stern. He was slightly displeased that Zhao Shimei had not reported his situation with Li Churan earlier.
"This humble one has a younger brother who lived among the common folk from the age of ten. I only found him today and confirmed he is my second royal brother. I hope Your Majesty will allow my brother to return to our country with me." Li Churan looked towards Qiao Ci, her eyes filled with calculation.
"Since you have found him, take him. Do you need my consent?" The Emperor's eyes flickered ambiguously. Neither of today's matters was within his expectations. Even the fact that the Second Prince of Fengming Kingdom was within his territory was news to him.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, my second royal brother is here in this very hall, the youth Li Su by the Grand Princess Qiao Ci's side. This humble one had previously negotiated with your Grand Princess, and it seems she is unwilling to return my second royal brother to Fengming Kingdom." Li Churan's insinuation of unwillingness to return him carried a subtle weight, one that could potentially disrupt friendly relations between the two nations and even lead to conflict.
The Emperor's gaze towards Qiao Ci was filled with questioning. He addressed her by her full name: "Qiao Ci, what is going on?"
This was becoming increasingly outrageous! First, she divorces her husband, and now she detains a prince of Fengming Kingdom!
Li Su, clutching Qiao Ci's sleeve, looked at her with concern. Qiao Ci patted his hand before slowly and calmly rising to reply.
"Father, Li Su is a person in my residence. After learning of his background, I asked for his opinion. He is willing to stay in the Princess's manor, contrary to Li Churan's claims that I am holding him back."
Li Churan directly retorted, "This is, after all, your Tenglong Kingdom. It is not impossible that you threatened my second royal brother with words. After all, who would refuse to be a prince and instead become a male concubine?"
Then, she cupped her hands towards the Emperor, "My mother misses my second royal brother so much she has fallen ill. I hope Your Majesty will permit your Grand Princess to release him, so he may return to Fengming and be with my mother."
The Emperor, who had initially intended to ask for Li Su's opinion to salvage some royal dignity, found that Li Su's opinion seemed less important after Li Churan's words.
He looked at Qiao Ci with displeasure, "You did not report such a significant matter to me first, nearly causing a misunderstanding between two nations. Qiao Ci, has infatuation clouded your judgment? I decree today that Li Su shall be returned to Fengming Kingdom to reunite with the Queen of Fengming."
"No..." Li Su was about to step forward and plead with the Emperor to retract his decree when Qiao Ci pulled him back and stopped him.
Seeing the Emperor being so easily manipulated by others, Qiao Ci couldn't even be bothered to call him "Father" anymore. She replied, "Very well."
Li Su looked at Qiao Ci, who seemed to have abandoned him, a moment of panic in his eyes. Did she no longer want him?
Li Churan was genuinely taken aback by Qiao Ci's swift agreement. She had already planned how she would condemn her from a position of authority, but it turned out to be this?
However, with the atmosphere already built, and recalling her mother's words, Li Churan once again addressed the Emperor, "My mother thanks your Grand Princess for her care of my royal brother. Furthermore, although the two nations have coexisted peacefully for so long, there has never been a marital alliance. I wish to offer ten thousand taels of gold to betroth your Grand Princess Qiao Ci to my second royal brother. What are your thoughts on this?"
Li Churan looked confidently at the Emperor on his throne. From Zhao Shimei, she had learned that Tenglong Kingdom's treasury was currently depleted. To the Emperor, what was one princess who had already been married? He would surely weigh the consequences carefully.
As expected, the Emperor hesitated for only a moment before his gaze turned resolute as he looked at Qiao Ci, hinting, "Since you and the Second Prince of Fengming Kingdom have known each other for a long time, and your affection is deep, shall I grant this divinely ordained match?"
"Are you truly willing to send your daughter to Fengming Kingdom?" Qiao Ci, as if she had anticipated this, showed no surprise. She raised her eyes to look at the Emperor, her tone indifferent. It was unclear whether she was being playful or reluctant.
"Haha, of course, I am reluctant. But, you must marry eventually. I see this Li Su is handsome and possesses a noble demeanor, making him a good match for you. I am doing this for your own good." The Emperor seemed oblivious to the coolness in Qiao Ci's eyes.
Li Churan watched the father and daughter confront each other, her heart filled with anticipation. She hoped Qiao Ci would directly refuse the Emperor, thereby incurring his wrath and punishment, allowing her to vent her anger.
After all, no matter how she resisted, she would still have to marry. Otherwise, the proposal of ten thousand taels of dowry would cease to exist.
Last night, her mother had told her that ten thousand taels of gold was the cost to take Li Su away in front of the Emperor, and to additionally take one of his daughters.
If they dared to treat a prince of Fengming Kingdom as a male concubine, then Qiao Ci would be bought and made the most lowly of wives!
In fact, Li Churan did not want Qiao Ci to return to Fengming with her. After all, the man she currently loved was her former consort. If it were known upon their return, she didn't know how people would gossip about her.
She had expected Qiao Ci to refuse. Unexpectedly, Qiao Ci smiled charmingly, her eyes holding a deeper meaning, "Since it is Father's wish, then I shall go to Fengming."
Since so many people wanted her to go to Fengming, then she would go. She only hoped they would not regret it.