"This day and age, people aren't allowed to speak the truth anymore?" Xiao Man lowered her voice. "Who says it's impossible? As long as you dare to think and dare to do, anything is possible."
"I am a princess of the royal family," Nangong Wu said softly. Being a princess of the royal family meant she was destined not to act recklessly.
"The identity of a royal princess is not an honor for you, but a shackle," Xiao Man said meaningfully. If only Nangong Wu dared to cast aside this princess title, Qin Zeyan would never dare to abandon her.
Nangong Wu gave a bitter smile. Yes, it was a shackle, but it was precisely this shackle that was suffocating her.
"I can't do anything about it."
"Ways are thought of by people. For different people, different methods must be used," Xiao Man muttered. At this moment, the Empress accompanied by the Empress Dowager appeared in the main hall. The Empress Dowager's gaze swept over the two whispering figures, and they immediately stood up to pay their respects.
After the Emperor was seated, everyone else followed suit and sat down.
With a call to commence the feast, palace maids entered in an orderly fashion, serving fine wine and delicacies. The sound of silk and bamboo music gradually rose, and dancers swayed to the rhythm. The grand hall was filled with song and dance.
"Envoy Qu, you said that the chosen person would be announced today. Has it been decided who it is?" the Empress Dowager asked after taking a sip of wine and a few bites of food.
Qu Yang stood up and bowed. "Replying to the Empress Dowager, there is no hurry. You will know soon enough."
The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor. "Look at this mysterious manner, it makes this Empress Dowager all the more curious. I wonder which family's daughter has caught the discerning eye of the esteemed elders of Yunqi."
"Whoever it may be, they will undoubtedly be exceptional," the Emperor said with a smile, his gaze turning to Xiao Man. "Yongning, are you feeling better?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I have recovered considerably."
"Then I am relieved," the Emperor beckoned. "Yongning is not feeling well, replace her wine with tea."
"Yes."
A palace maid immediately stepped forward and replaced the wine on Xiao Man's table with tea. Xiao Man bowed in thanks and sat down again.
Halfway through the banquet, with the wine taking effect, everyone was somewhat apprehensive, hoping that it was their daughter who would be chosen. As for the young ladies who had been eliminated in the first round, they ate and drank without any pressure.
At this moment, an urgent report came from outside the hall: "His Majesty Yun is arriving!"
Everyone in the grand hall looked surprised. His Majesty Yun was actually coming in person. Does this mean that the selection of the Empress was personally made by His Majesty Yun?
The gazes of everyone could not help but turn towards the entrance of the hall. They saw a figure walk in with composure, clad in a black five-claw dragon robe, which made his face appear even more handsome and peerless.
Everyone said that the young Emperor of Yunqi was cruel and bloodthirsty, but seeing him today, he was a graceful young man, exuding an aura of majesty that made people dare not look directly at him.
"Your Majesty Yu, I apologize for the intrusion."
"It is an honor for our Yu Sheng for His Majesty Yun to personally visit. Please, prepare a seat," the old Emperor said with a smile.
Palace maids and eunuchs quickly brought over a small table. The Empress and Empress Dowager shifted back. Murong Shengrui's seat was placed level with that of His Majesty Yu. Although Murong Shengrui was young, the old Emperor dared not underestimate him. Su Dan Novel Network
"Thank you, Your Majesty Yu."
Murong Shengrui flicked his robe and sat down, his gaze sweeping across the hall before pausing slightly on Xiao Man, then retracting.
The Empress and Empress Dowager rejoiced inwardly. Did the young Emperor of Yunqi just look at the Ninth Princess? This means that the Ninth Princess is the chosen candidate for marriage alliance that the young Emperor of Yunqi favors?
"His Majesty Yun's personal visit to our Yu Sheng demonstrates his high regard for this marriage alliance candidate. May I ask which noble lady present has caught His Majesty Yun's eye?" the old Emperor asked while toasting.
Murong Shengrui downed the wine in his cup, then refilled it himself with the wine pot. He walked down from his seat and circled the hall, his gaze sweeping over each noble lady present before returning to the front.
"Your Majesty Yu, I once sent a betrothal gift list. Did you receive it?"
"I received it. The betrothal gifts are five border cities, one iron mine, and one jade mine."
"Now, I will double the betrothal gifts," Murong Shengrui announced loudly. "With ten border cities, two iron mines, one gold mine, and one jade mine as betrothal gifts, I wish to propose marriage to a noble lady of your country to be my Empress. In the future, the prince born to her will be made Crown Prince, and our two nations will forever be allied."
Upon hearing this, the entire hall erupted in commotion. To seek marriage with such substantial betrothal gifts was already rare, and to promise to make the Crown Prince the son of a foreign woman was akin to handing over the entire Yunqi empire!
The Emperor was also deeply shocked, especially by the words about making the prince born to the marriage alliance noble lady the Crown Prince. This was incredibly significant. Once the marriage alliance noble lady gave birth to a prince, Murong Shengrui could retire victoriously, and then who would dare to challenge his unification of the realm?
"May I ask which noble lady His Majesty Yun has taken a liking to?" the old Emperor asked calmly, suppressing his inner excitement.
Murong Shengrui curved his lips into a smile, picked up his wine cup, and walked towards Nangong Wu. Nangong Wu's face turned pale. Had she ultimately not escaped the fate of a marriage alliance?
The old Emperor was ecstatic. It was his daughter! The Empress and Empress Dowager beamed with joy. Nangong Wu closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Just as she was about to rise and accept the wine cup from Murong Shengrui, she saw him walk past her and stop in front of Xiao Man, decisively extending the wine cup in his hand.
"Miss's beauty is as brilliant as spring blossoms, as radiant as the autumn moon, as elegant as a lotus flower dusted with dew, and as shy as a peach blossom kissed by mist. I am instantly smitten with Miss. If I am fortunate enough to have Miss as my wife, from this day forth, my harem will only hold you."
The drastic shift came too quickly. The Emperor was momentarily stunned. How could he have fallen for Xiao Man?
Nangong Wu, still trembling, looked at Xiao Man. Xiang Huan'er was right. Yunqi had come for Xiao Man!
"Your Majesty Yun, I'm afraid Man'er cannot bear your affections." Wen Mohan stood up and walked to Xiao Man's side. "Man'er and I have long been engaged, and our wedding is imminent. I am humbled by your misplaced affections."
"Not yet married means still unmarried," Murong Shengrui's hand, holding out the wine cup, paused steadily before Xiao Man. His amorous peach blossom eyes gazed at Xiao Man. "Miss, do you not agree?"
"Your Majesty Yun..."
Xiao Man reached out and clasped Wen Mohan's hand. Their fingers intertwined, their grip firm. Her stance was clear: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty Yun. This humble woman is not skilled in drinking."
Wen Mohan's heart filled with joy as he looked at Xiao Man with tender affection, truly a picture of devoted love.
The smile on Murong Shengrui's face vanished. Coldness gathered in his eyes as he stared at their clasped hands, a thought forming in his mind: Chop off that hand! Chop off that hand!
Murong Shengrui was never one to deny himself. With a flick of his wrist, the wine cup in his hand shot out with a sharp force, directly targeting the vital point of Wen Mohan's wrist. If Wen Mohan had taken that blow, his hand would likely have been crippled.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Man shifted her body and blocked in front of Wen Mohan. With a wave of her long sleeve, the wine cup shattered. However, not a drop of the wine fell; it was swept back and splashed all over Murong Shengrui's face.