188 – The Candidate for the Peace Marriage

“A-Tie, do you know what’s going on?” Qin Mian asked Lei Tie in a smug tone.

Lei Tie took a funny look at his wife and held his hand on the table. He pondered for a moment, “Steal the beams and change the pillars.”¹

His calm expression and steady manner exuded reassuring charm. Qin Mian so wanted to jump over and kiss him, but too many people got in the way. He picked up a piece of pastry and took a bite. He deliberately frowned, pretended it was not to his taste and handed it to Lei Tie.

Lei Tie took the pastry and ate it in two bites as he looked at him.

Qin Mian looked away with the corners of his lips curved.

Emperor Xiaohui was amused when he saw it and shook his head to himself. Lady of the State Defender Duke and State Defender Duke are a perfect match.

Some of the people had given up and continued to eat and drink; others were not resigned and continued to solve the odd question.

After a long time, the first incense was burnt out. The attendant silently went over and put on the second incense.

Chen Mufeng gently smiled as he put down his writing brush, “So, that’s the case.”

A light flashed in Emperor Xiaohui’s eyes and he asked with a smile, “Oh? Does Mufeng understand what’s going on?”

Every Tuluo person had a somber expression; they looked over at Chen Mufeng.

Chen Mufeng got up and explained, “Answering, Your Majesty. It’s like this. The innkeeper returned 5 taels, in other words, the three guests only paid 25 taels. Then, on average, each person should pay 8 and 1/3 taels of silver. With the addition of 1 tael returned, the total should be 9 and 1/3 taels. But the next sentence said, ‘each of the three guests spent 9 taels’ – this sentence cleverly confused the thinking of the respondents, so it led to the problem of 1 tael lost.”

Everyone suddenly understood at the same time; they all admired the questioner.

“So, that’s the case…”

Ye Yunwen and Sheng Xuhao looked at each other and suddenly understood why their Tuluo emperor was so afraid of Great Xia. It seemed to be a kind of disadvantage that Great Xia paid more attention to literature arts than to martial arts, but on the battlefield, a military advisor with a quick-witted mind could be worth tens of thousands of armies.

Emperor Xiaohui was overjoyed, “Well then, Commandery Prince Mu will be greatly rewarded.”

“Many thanks, Your Majesty.”

Tuluo came all the way to Great Xia not to be disgraced but was defeated in the literary arts contest. Liu Manqing and the others all forced their faces to smile and could only hope for the martial arts contest.

Sheng Xuhao gave a meaningful look to Liu Manqing.

Liu Manqing said toward the upper seat, “Your Majesty, congratulations on your victory. Venture to ask how to carry out the martial arts contest?”

Emperor Xiaohui thought about it and said, “This way: my country and Tuluo present three people each; two wins in three sets are the winner. How about it?”

“That’s very good.” Liu Manqing looked at Sheng Xuhao and said, “General Sheng, in your opinion, which three people should we send to compete?”

Sheng Xuhao looked around the people with him and pointed out the three valiant generals.

Lei Tie introduced them to Qin Mian through mind transference, “Li Yuanming and Huyan Lie are both famous generals of Tuluo, but Abu is unheard of.”

Emperor Xiaohui wanted to hide the strength of Great Xia, but he couldn’t do it too obviously. He picked a left general, an official gatekeeper of the city, and a brigade vice commander.

Tuluo won the first set, lost the second, and won the third. The martial arts contest was won by Tuluo. Lost the literature arts contest but won the martial arts contest – it was not too disgraceful.

By this time, the banquet had come to an end.

The two sides still did not mention the candidates for the peace marriage, but they already knew each other well.

After the banquet, compared with before, the civil and military ministers and the mandated ladies were much more enthusiastic toward Qin Mian and Lei Tie.

Qin Mian and Lei Tie coped with the situation smoothly, and as before, they remained indifferent whether granted favors or subjected to humiliation.

On the other side, when Emperor Xiaohui returned to the back palace, his face gloomed.

The empress dowager and the empress sat by and looked at Princess Yanqing faintly.

Emperor Xiaohui was in uncontrollable anger that he struck the table hard, “Evil woman, kneel!”

Princess Yanqing obediently knelt. Her beautiful eyes were full of crystal tears. She pouted and said, “Imperial Father, Yanqing knows she is wrong~~” Imperial Father and Imperial Grandmother always fell for this trick of hers.

Emperor Xiaohui calmly asked, “Oh? You tell Zhen, what have you done wrong?”

Princess Yanqing said without the least hesitation, “Your daughter should not target Lady of the State Defender Duke.”

The empress dowager’s eyes only glanced at her lightly, then she looked away and sipped the fragrant tea without saying a word.

The empress pretended to wipe the tea on her lips with a silk handkerchief – there was a mocking smile on her lips.

“Imperial Father, Imperial Grandmother, and Imperial Mother. Yanqing truly knows her mistake… sob sob…” Yanqing knelt on the ground and cried very sad.

Unfortunately, Emperor Xiaohui did not intend to forgive her this time. What Emperor Xiaohui was annoyed about was not the matter of Princess Yanqing involving Lady of the State Defender Duke, which might lead to Great Xia’s loss in the literary arts contest. What made him feel bitterly disappointed was that Princess Yanqing didn’t have an appreciation of a thing’s importance that regardless of the occasion, she pulled her own leg before other people. He realized very clearly that his daughter was a hopeless case.

He and the empress dowager looked at each other, and the empress dowager slightly nodded.

It was time to decide the candidate for the peace marriage.

Emperor Xiaohui was reluctant to marry off Duanning and Princess Yanqing was also his own daughter. The reason why Emperor Xiaohui asked the dignitaries to bring their unmarried daughters was that he really planned to choose a suitable person to confer a princess title among them. But now, he changed his mind. Princess Yanqing had given up her chance.

However, he knew his daughter’s temperament and didn’t plan to tell her now. Like many times in the past, Princess Yanqing made mistakes and admitted them, so he softened his expression and lovingly said, “Alright, get up. You can’t be so willful next time.”

Princess Yanqing honestly kowtowed and promised. The smile on her lips was so complacent and aware that things would turn out this way.

Emperor Xiaohui clearly saw her expression – his face turned colder. He stood up and said in a light voice, “Imperial Mother, your son is a little tired. Going to have a rest first.”

The empress dowager stood up and nodded, “Today’s government affairs are tedious. The emperor needs to take care of his health. Empress, be more attentive.”

“Yes, Imperial Mother, your daughter-in-law sincerely abides by your teaching.”

Not long after Emperor Xiaohui left, the empress also left with Princess Duanning.

When she was about to leave the hall, Princess Duanning looked back and saw that Princess Yanqing threw herself in the empress dowager’s arms just as coquettish as before and not at all noticed the coldness of the empress dowager’s expression. She felt very sympathetic, but she wouldn’t do anything.

It takes more than one cold day for the river to freeze three feet deep.²

“Duanning?” prompted the empress.

Princess Duanning quickly picked up her skirt and kept up. She took the empress’s arm, “Imperial Mother, wait for your daughter.”

“Hey, you. You aren’t allowed to interfere in your eldest sister’s affairs,” warned the empress as she lovingly poked her forehead.

“Don’t worry, Imperial Mother. Your daughter understands.”

The empress patted her arm with a slight smile and said in a low voice, “If your Imperial Mother is right, your Imperial Father will bestow marriage to you today.”

Princess Duanning’s face turned red, “Imperial Mother~~”

Two flowers blossomed, one on each side.³

Not long after the Qin Mian family returned to the State Defender Duke Establishment, the rewards from the emperor, the empress dowager, and the empress arrived. The reason for the rewards was unclear.

The Qin Mian family was not short of money. They didn’t care about the value of these gold and silver jewelry. They just gathered around to admire the attractive design of some rare items.

Less than an hour later, Emperor Xiaohui’s decree spread out in the palace: Princess Duanning is matched by the emperor to marry. Next year, she will be married off to the Heir of Martial God Marquis.

As soon as this edict was issued, the shrewd people understood that the one likely to be decreed to the Sixth Prince of Tuluo was Princess Yanqing.

The Tuluo people might know that Princess Yanqing was an old maid, but Great Xia’s attitude was very obvious: It’s fine if you don’t want Princess Yanqing, but then you can marry any made princess in the family of a minister or marquis.

Under the weight and consider balance, it was only natural for the Tuluo people to choose Princess Yanqing, who was the real descendant of royalty. Even if a woman in a minister or marquis’s family was conferred a super-rank princess, she had no blood relationship with Emperor Xiaohui.

The marriage between Liu Manqing and Princess Yanqing was a foregone conclusion. Emperor Xiaohui himself issued a ban order, forbidding anyone to tell Princess Yanqing about it, otherwise, they would be punished according to the crime of treason.

In such a big palace, only Princess Yanqing was kept in the dark.

Six days later, the Tuluo envoys set out to return to Tuluo.

Emperor Xiaohui had a deep understanding of his eldest daughter’s character. On the day of the departure, he had Princess Yanqing knocked out with drug. Princess Yanqing was delivered to an elegant red carriage in her sleep.

In order to express Princess Yanqing’s value, Emperor Xiaohui prepared 160 dowries for Princess Yanqing. Among them were an arched-stone crown, 10 second-grade eastern pearls, 5 golden phoenixes, 25 fifth-grade eastern pearls, 7 dull pearls, 120 fragmented small pearls, 2 black pearls, a golden long-tailed bird, an inlaid ornamental knot, a gold-encrusted peach blossom ornamental accessory… and so on – it was truly a ten li of female adornment.

On this day, almost all the people crowded on both sides of the street to watch the grand occasion of the princess’s trip. The Capital was like boiling water.

The empress was thoughtful and arranged for a palace maid in the princess’s carriage. She put on a veil, lift the curtain from time to time, and smiled, nodded, or wave to the people. The people were even more excited.

Because there were too many dowries and to show Great Xia attached great importance to the marriage with Tuluo, Emperor Xiaohui sent 5000 elite soldiers to escort the princess and protect the envoy group.

It happened that Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin were on holiday. They sat on Golden Fur with Zhangsun Hong, the son of Zhangsun He, and watched the excitement on the street.

Qin Mian, Lei Tie, Chen Mufeng, and Zhangsun He stood behind them.

“When I marry a wife in the future, the parade won’t be small,” said Lei Ruilin in all seriousness.

“Cough cough…” Qin Mian choked on his saliva making him coughed until he was red. Just this old and this stinky son is thinking of marrying a wife!

Lei Tie patted him on the back.

Zhangsun Hong made fun of Lei Ruilin, “How old are you now?”

Qin Ruiqi straightforwardly flicked Lei Ruilin’s forehead without expression.

“Ge!” Lei Ruilin covered his forehead.

“Nonsense,” said Qin Ruiqi lightly.

Lei Ruilin still wanted to say something but upon seeing his Old Dad stared at him coldly while pacifying his Dad, he was startled. He stuck out his tongue and turned his head to continue watching.

Chen Mufeng and Zhangsun He laughed.

Lei Tie took a look at Zhangsun He, “I’ll leave it to you.”

Zhangsun He understood, “Rest assured.”

Lei Tie took Qin Mian by the hand and went to the sparsely populated street. If nothing changed in Emperor Xiaohui’s arrangement, Lei Tie would take the army to the west in half a month at most. Their time was running out.

“A-Tie, I think we have to secretly go to Dongyang Academy to see how’s our sons doing every day. Look at what Ruilin said!” Qin Mian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Lei Tie said, “Tomorrow’s matter is for tomorrow. Today, you just need to listen to me.”

Qin Mian went up shoulder-to-shoulder with him, incomparably cooperated, “All right. I’ll go wherever you want to go. The husband sings, the husband (wife) follows. Hahaha…”

“The husband sings, the husband follows?” Lei Tie looked as if he was deeply thinking. Then, he clasped the back of Qin Mian’s head and kissed him on the forehead before pulling him forward.

Footnotes