Lu Qing Wan chuckled and interjected, "Whether this marriage can happen is not for us to decide. It's good if the King of Youzhou and my imperial brother have no objections, but the key is whether you can win Yao Yao's heart. She is the first female official of my Tian Feng, currently holding a fifth-rank position. If she is unwilling, I will absolutely not let you take her away."
Gu Xing Zhi glanced back, "I've long heard that Your Majesty began training female officials before ascending the throne, and my emperor also intends to emulate this. If she truly marries into the Gu family, a bright future awaits her, and she will never be confined to the inner chambers, wasting her life. Moreover, this matter was initiated by Your Majesty himself; he wouldn't want to see his humble general return defeated, would he?"
Gu Xing Zhi actually pushed Si Feng Wu and Lu Qing Wan to carry his sedan chair and used Chi Yao Yao's future as leverage. Si Feng Wu and Lu Qing Wan instantly felt that this matter had a chance.
When the children had their full moon celebration, Lu Qing Wan was still recovering from childbirth. During the weddings of Lian Yu, Wu Ying, and others, Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu, due to their special status, feared they might disturb the festivities. They merely sent wedding gifts to the newlyweds and did not attend themselves.
Speaking of which, Lu Qing Wan hadn't been to lively events in a long time. By the time the hundredth-day banquet for the three children arrived, she was more excited than the three little protagonists. Early in the morning, she was dressed in her finest attire. Even the three little protagonists were forced to wake up early. The little prince was dressed in a small imperial yellow robe, and the two little princesses were wrapped in festive red.
Man Chun was styling Lu Qing Wan's hair when Si Shu Yuan, who had been forcibly brought to the palace from the Lu Manor by Lian Yu, stared at the three babies in the cradle like a pervert, his gaze so intent it was as if he wanted to eat children. This made Lu Qing Wan laugh repeatedly.
Hearing Lu Qing Wan's laughter, Si Shu Yuan didn't feel embarrassed and shamelessly pleaded, "Mother Consort, you have two little darlings, can't you give me one?"
From the moment Lu Qing Wan married Si Feng Wu, her identity had undergone many changes, as had Si Shu Yuan's. However, the child's address to Lu Qing Wan had never changed. The address "Mother Consort" denoted both Lu Qing Wan's kindness in teaching him when he was young and his current affection for her.
Even so, Si Shu Yuan, who usually prided himself on being a little man, would never have been so clingy. Now, in order to trick Lu Qing Wan into giving him a sister, he had thrown all shame aside.
Just as Lu Qing Wan was about to tease him, Si Shu Yuan was scooped up by Si Feng Wu by the scruff of his neck. "I haven't even punished you for leaving the palace without permission, and you dare to have designs on two little darlings. Are you getting too big for your boots, or have I become too weak to wield my saber?"
Si Feng Wu was a master of martial arts and, even though Tian Feng enjoyed peace, he never stopped training. He lifted the thirteen-year-old Si Shu Yuan as if playing. Si Shu Yuan, considering himself a proper man, was utterly helpless when lifted by Si Feng Wu and cried out in grievance, "Mother Consort, look at him! Such a big grown man bullying me, a child. Mother Consort, let's not have him anymore. Let's go back to Da Qin with my younger siblings..."
His feet off the ground, his arms flailing like a duck out of water, he still tried to lure Lu Qing Wan to take the children to Da Qin. Si Feng Wu was amused to the point of laughter. He pressed the boy onto a chair, ready to administer a spanking, when Li Su arrived, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Your Highness, all officials have arrived. The banquet is about to begin!"
Indeed, both the Xiangguo Temple and the Imperial Observatory had chosen auspicious times for the hundredth-day banquet of the three children. This was a grand occasion for the three little ones, and no one dared to delay. Si Feng Wu slapped Si Shu Yuan's backside, "You're lucky! But don't get cocky. I'll write to your father later and request ten or so civil and military tutors for you. If you dare to leave Zhongzhou again without permission, I'll throw you into the military camp and flay you!"
The young boy flailed and dodged Si Feng Wu's slap, making a mischievous face, "I'm not afraid of you! Mother Consort said I am the future emperor of Da Qin, and these are things I am meant to learn. If you don't report me, my father will also ask tutors to teach me! But as long as I am in Tian Feng, I will seize the day and make stealing Wu You sister my lifelong mission..."
The uncle and nephew bickered relentlessly, as if they wouldn't stop until one of them was angered to death. They only quieted down upon reaching Qionghua Palace.
The assembled officials and their families shouted greetings and offerings of good wishes. The music was melodious, the dances graceful, and no one dared to trouble them with matters of court or harem. Lu Qing Wan was in excellent spirits. The three little ones seemed to know they were the stars of the day, content to be held by their wet nurses, not crying or fussing, just making little sounds. Wherever the babies' eyes turned, the wet nurses would turn them in that direction.
Influenced by the state of the court, many officials had not had children in years. Lu Qing Wan giving birth to three children at once, while unrelated to the stability of the nation, had indirectly accumulated considerable good reputation for her, such as being a bringer of good fortune or divinely destined. Even the criticisms against her had lessened, and consequently, the affection for the three imperial heirs had soared. As a result, wherever the children looked, the officials there would gaze at them with starry eyes.
As the emperor and his subjects enjoyed harmony, Gu Xing Zhi suddenly stood up, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble general has taken a liking to a noble lady of your esteemed country. I have specially sought the opinions of my emperor and my family, and all parties are extremely satisfied with this noble lady. This humble general implores Your Majesty to bestow this noble lady upon me in marriage. I will marry her with the utmost sincerity. This will foster kinship between Da Qin and Tian Feng, wishing our two nations eternal neighborly friendship and never enmity."
Before formally proposing, Gu Xing Zhi, Si Feng Wu, and his wife had kept silent about it, considering Chi Yao Yao's reputation. The Chi family would never risk Chi Yao Yao's reputation, and everyone was merely in the discussion phase. No one had expected Gu Xing Zhi to propose marriage at such an important occasion.
Lu Qing Wan, though surprised, quickly recovered, "May I ask which noble lady General Gu has set his heart upon? If the lady and her family are willing, I shall naturally be pleased to help facilitate the union. However, marriage is marriage; it is unrelated to diplomatic relations or 'Qin Jin Zhi Hao' (Qin and Jin forming an alliance). That is merely your wedding."
She then swept her apricot eyes across the hall, "But since General Gu has brought this up today, I shall make a vow here to admonish future generations of Tian Feng. My Tian Feng was founded from humble beginnings and achieved its status through the cooperation of various parties. Henceforth, any descendant of mine who rules Tian Feng must remember that Tian Feng exists for the common people of the world, not for the Lu imperial family. Therefore, Tian Feng will not engage in marriage alliances, demand tribute, cede territory, or pay indemnities. Should the empire truly face collapse, the Son of Heaven will guard the nation's gates, the sovereign will die for the country, and the soldiers will fight on the battlefield. If even then we cannot turn the tide, then we shall accept destiny. This vast empire will have its rightful owner. I have no desire for an empire sustained by servility and bowing to others!"
Silence. A deathly silence. In the entire Chonghua Palace, only the sound of gasps could be heard; no one spoke. After a long while, thunderous applause echoed inside and outside the palace. Following that, the officials knelt, shouting greetings and long live the emperor.
"Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live forever!"
"Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live forever!"
...
The synchronized shouts of "Long live" reverberated through the sky. At this moment, everyone inside and outside the grand hall had but one feeling: Lu Qing Wan was worthy of the supreme throne, worthy of being the co-ruler of the world!