"If Yun Qi demands Xiao Man for a political marriage, won't Yusheng fall into internal strife?" Bai Linglong was the first to consider this issue. Xiao Man seemed unimportant, but as her good friend, she knew a few things about her. Not only would the Xiao family father and son object, but the Prime Minister's mansion would never agree!
"That's why I say Yun Qi's intentions are malicious!" Xiang Huan'er bit into a pastry fiercely. "The Xiao family's betrothal to the Wen family was precisely to avoid such a situation. Who knew Yun Qi's people would be so despicable and shameless as to demand that the betrothed also participate in the concubine selection banquet? It's a clear attempt to sow discord between ruler and subject and disrupt the imperial court of our Yusheng."
"Miss Xiang, might you be overthinking things?" Nangong Wu calmed herself. "Perhaps Yun Qi's target isn't Xiao Man."
"Let's make a bet. How much pocket money do you have?"
Nangong Wu was stunned. She immediately felt her pockets and only found two taels of silver. Bai Linglong actually had more, but it was only six taels.
"You're this poor?"
"I'm a princess. I rarely carry money when I go out."
"I'm not considered poor, am I? My monthly allowance is ten taels. After spending some, I have six taels left, which is not a small amount," Bai Linglong retorted. "Do you really think everyone is as wealthy as you are? Duke Lu only has you as his daughter; he'd give you the stars and the moon. It's different for me; I have brothers at home."
"Xiao Man also has brothers, and she still gets whatever she wants?"
Bai Linglong covered her face with her hand. "How many people dote on their eldest legitimate daughter as much as the Great General does?"
"True." Xiang Huan'er looked disdainfully at the silver in their hands. "How about this: let's each put up a valuable item as a stake. We'll bet that Yun Qi's target is Xiao Man!"
"I can afford a valuable item," Nangong Wu immediately took off the pearl on her neck. "This pearl was bestowed upon me by the Empress Dowager. It's worth a thousand gold. Is it valuable enough?"
Xiang Huan'er's eyes widened as she looked at the large pearl. "Enough, enough. What about Linglong?"
Bai Linglong sighed and took off the flower hairpin from her head. "This hairpin was brought back from Wuyue country. It's not as valuable as Ninth Princess's pearl, but it's still worth over a hundred taels of silver. It's the most valuable piece of jewelry I have."
"Fine, the stakes are set. I bet Yun Qi is after Xiao Man and will definitely propose to make her empress!" Xiang Huan'er took out a piece of blood jade as a stake. "I'm using my mother's遗物 as collateral!"
"Heavens, you dare use your mother's遗物 as collateral!" Bai Linglong exclaimed. Xiang Huan'er was truly too bold.
"I bet Yun Qi doesn't genuinely want a political marriage," Nangong Wu said slowly. "The political marriage is merely a delaying tactic for them."
"A delaying tactic?" The two looked at Nangong Wu in confusion. "What makes you say that?"
"You two don't know yet, do you? The envoy from Lanyue country is already on their way to Yusheng. Doesn't the timing seem too coincidental?" As a royal princess, Nangong Wu was quite perceptive regarding state affairs. "If the two countries were to form an alliance in private, and it became known, it would inevitably make other countries wary. But what if they form a private alliance under the guise of a political marriage?"
The two exchanged glances, finding Nangong Wu's words to have some merit.
"Makes sense."
"Then Linglong, who are you betting on?"
"You both make valid points, and I don't know how to choose." Bai Linglong scratched her head, a little troubled. "How about this, I'll do as Huan'er does. I'll bet that Yun Qi's target is Xiao Man!"
Nangong Wu looked at the two with a strange expression. "You truly are good sisters to Xiao Man, wholeheartedly pushing her into the fire pit."
"Ninth Princess, that's not right. How can you say we're pushing her into a fire pit? Can we decide on a political marriage? Or can we control the thoughts of Yun Qi's envoy?"
"Aren't you hoping that Yun Qi is after Xiao Man?"
"It's not that we're hoping, but Yun Qi has shown great interest in Xiao Man, making it highly possible they are after her. However, it's also not impossible that Yun Qi wants to use the pretext of a political marriage to ally with Lanyue!"
"Whether it's the young emperor of Yun Qi or the empress of Lanyue, they are all cut from the same cloth – ruthless and unfeeling. These two might just hit it off perfectly!" Xiang Huan'er clapped the crumbs from her hands. "As for Yun Qi's purpose, we'll know tomorrow night at the palace banquet."
"Then I shall await it with anticipation."
Wen Mohan paced anxiously in his study, his agitated demeanor making Prime Minister Wen dizzy.
"Alright, stop pacing back and forth. You're making my eyes spin," Prime Minister Wen said. "This matter isn't settled yet. What are you in such a hurry for?"
"Father, Yun Qi was originally after Man'er. It's just that they don't know Man'er's true identity, so they haven't made a move. If Man'er attends the palace banquet tomorrow night, her secret will be revealed."
"She just won't attend." Prime Minister Wen said dismissively.
"The Emperor has decreed that all noble ladies must attend this palace banquet, and Man'er is no exception!" Wen Mohan felt an inexplicable unease. He had a premonition that something would happen at tomorrow night's banquet.
"When the soldiers come, block them; when the water comes, dam it. There's no use in you being anxious now," Prime Minister Wen said while reviewing official documents. "Besides, do you really think that girl is a pushover?"
"Even if Man'er is smart, when the opponent is an entire country, she'll be at a disadvantage," Wen Mohan said with a pained expression. "Why must she endure such hardship?"
"Then why don't you two get married sooner?"
"If we get married now, wouldn't it confirm that Man'er is using marriage as an excuse to avoid the political marriage? Her reputation would be ruined, and the General's mansion would be slandered!"
"This won't work, and that won't work. What exactly do you want?" Prime Minister Wen reprimanded. "Every time something concerning Xiao Man comes up, you lose your head in a panic. With your current state, where is your composure and calmness? If Xiao Man truly gets into trouble, and you're this flustered, how can you help her?"
Wen Mohan immediately calmed down. "I was too panicked."
"Concern makes one lose reason. I don't know what's so special about that girl that makes you so infatuated with her!" Prime Minister Wen grumbled internally. He had fought with Xiao Zhen his entire life, only to be defeated by his daughter in the end. How could that rough fellow Xiao Zhen raise such a delicate and shrewd young woman!
"What's so special about Mother that Father vowed never to take concubines and obeyed Mother's every command?" Wen Mohan retorted.
"You scoundrel, how can you compare your mother to others?"
"Father, don't lecture me. I'm your son. I'm not much different from you!" Wen Mohan sat down beside him. "Although the men of our Wen family are all adept at scheming, we all have a fatal weakness."