Chapter 663: Alliance (3)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“That’s right!” Another voice echoed excitedly. “It’s now or never.”
“Our family isn’t timid!”
Everyone present felt their blood boil. Their eyes burned as they echoed.
Yuan Zhe smiled and looked at Xiao Shoufu quietly for a while. Seeing Xiao Shoufu nod, he continued, “The envoy of the State of Yue, Dou Zixiang, will invite the Eldest Prince to the State of Yue to welcome his bride.”
Everyone’s pupils were constricted. At this moment, a cool wind suddenly blew into the hall, blowing away the end of the sentence.
The sun outside was suddenly half covered by dark clouds. The sky darkened and was dim, adding a little coldness to the hall and outside, revealing an uneasy pressure.
The news of Kang Wang’s marriage alliance with the State of Yue’s Princess Ximing quickly spread throughout the capital. For a moment, it became a topic of conversation after everyone’s meal, but the Emperor didn’t respond for a long time.
After waiting for two days, everyone really couldn’t take it anymore.
Therefore, from Xiao Shoufu, Yuan Zhe, and Wang Kangyin to the few royal relatives of the royal family, they entered the palace one after another to persuade him.
“Your Majesty, the State of Yue and the State of Jin have stopped fighting for nine years. A marriage alliance can definitely turn swords into gifts of jade between the two countries.”
“Your Majesty, please consider the big picture and allow Kang Wang to marry the Princess of the State of Yue. The two countries will have the best relationship.”
“Your Majesty, the country is more important. The marriage between the two countries is beneficial without any harm!”
“The State of Yue is sincere in befriending our State of Jin. If we anger the State of Yue, it will instead provoke a dispute between the two countries. At that time, it’s too late to regret!”
The meaning between the lines was that if the Emperor didn’t agree to Kang Wang marrying the Princess of the State of Yue, the country would fall.
After the repeated bombardment of these officials, the Emperor finally gave in and reluctantly agreed to this marriage. He summoned the envoy of the State of Yue, Dou Zixiang, who was temporarily staying at the posthouse, and agreed to the marriage between the two countries.
Dou Zixiang was a person who pushed his luck. Then, he made a request in front of the officials.
“Your Majesty, the Sage of our country is seriously ill now. He only hopes that the marriage of his most beloved princess, Princess Ximing, can be settled as soon as possible. He can rest assured and smile in the afterlife.”
“A big matter like proposing a marriage should have been done by His Majesty’s brother in his father’s place and gone to the State of Yue to propose to Princess Ximing on behalf of Kang Wang. However, His Majesty is the monarch of a country and can’t leave the country easily. Therefore, the Sage hopes that the Eldest Prince will go to the State of Yue on His Majesty’s behalf to show your country’s sincerity toward this marriage.”
“Princess Ximing is the eldest princess of the Sage. She has to marry gloriously to appease the people of the State of Yue.”
“Your Majesty, please allow me!”
The Emperor naturally objected to the Eldest Prince going to the State of Yue and almost left. He was persuaded by Xiao Shoufu and the other officials.
Dou Zixiang expressed righteously that their State of Yue was full of sincerity towards this marriage. They didn’t hesitate to let the noble Princess Ximing give herself to Kang Wang as a concubine, just to let the two countries have a good relationship. He also hinted openly and secretly that the Sage of the State of Yue didn’t have much time left. For this, the Sage of the State of Yue set a recent auspicious date. It was in 20 days, and he hoped that the Eldest Prince could immediately set off for the State of Yue.
The Emperor still felt that it was inappropriate, but Xiao Shoufu and the others advised the Emperor again, saying that since the Eldest Prince was the future heir, he should share the burden of the country as a father.
What Xiao Shoufu and the others said was dignified, but they were actually using the Crown Prince Book to threaten the Emperor. Their family had cooperated to get the Emperor on the throne, so the Emperor should repay them.
After a verbal battle between the two parties, the Emperor could only take another step back and agree unwillingly.
After completing the mission, Dou Zixiang left in satisfaction. The Emperor and the ministers had more to discuss.
Initially, the Ministry of Rites had decided that the Eldest Prince would go to the imperial mausoleum to worship the ancestor on behalf of the monarch. If it was changed to the Eldest Prince going to the State of Yue to welcome the bridal party, he wouldn’t be able to go to the imperial mausoleum. Therefore, the ministers started arguing again.
“The sacrifice of the imperial mausoleum is also a big matter for the country. It has already been announced to the world. It can’t be canceled for no reason.”
“His Highness, the Eldest Prince, has a noble status, so he can’t just find anyone to replace him. Why don’t the Prince of the First Rank go in his place?” “No, the sacrifice of the imperial mausoleum has always been presided over by the Son of Heaven and the Crown Prince.”
After a discussion in the Ministry of Rites, the Emperor finally decided that he would personally go to the imperial mausoleum to offer sacrifices. The various voices completely stopped.
The imperial decree was issued that day. The Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple hurriedly went to prepare related matters. After all, the honor guard of the emperor was very different from the honor guard of the prince.
Fortunately, the royal suit worn by the emperor’s sacrifice didn’t have to be made on the spot. They only had to modify the royal suit worn by the new year’s sacrifice slightly.
For two consecutive days, the sky in the capital was a little dark. The sun was always hidden behind thick clouds.
Even the air in the Gu residence was a little oppressive. It was the oppression before a storm.
The weather was clearly neither cold nor hot, but the people in the residence felt restless.
Gu Yuan was about to accompany the Eldest Prince to the State of Yue.
The State of Yue was the sworn enemy of the Gu family!