Three days later, an armored soldier rode his horse into the capital, kicking up a cloud of dust that made people sneeze.
The city guards covered their mouths and noses, their eyes watering profusely.
"What is going on? It looks like the Jinglei Army."
Another guard said, "The envoy delegation from the Shuobei Kingdom left only half a year ago. Why is someone from the border here again? Has a war broken out?"
They exchanged glances, the anxiety in their hearts difficult to dispel for the moment.
Half an hour later, the Minister of War, Wu Jianzheng, with a bitter expression and holding a bamboo tube, arrived at the door of the imperial study to seek an audience with the Emperor.
Xiao Chengjing remained silent for a long time after reading the report.
Asking to marry Song Jinzhao as an imperial concubine, the Shuobei Kingdom really had a good scheme going.
"Beloved Subject Wu, what do you think of this matter?"
Wu Jianzheng said without hesitation, "To reply to Your Majesty, He Mingyuan's intentions are glaringly obvious. The Linghui Princess of the County absolutely cannot go for a marriage alliance."
Xiao Chengjing tapped his fingers repeatedly on the table. "I certainly know what the Emperor of the Shuobei Kingdom is thinking, but how should we refuse?"
"A marriage alliance between two countries is outwardly to stabilize diplomatic relations. If we refuse, it will inevitably leave them with something to use against us, and it won't sound good when word gets out."
Wu Jianzheng furrowed his brows and pondered left and right. After a long while, he spoke tentatively.
"Marriage alliances between two countries usually involve a princess or a daughter of the imperial clan. Although Song Jinzhao is a Princess of the County, she is not of the imperial family. As long as she disagrees, and Your Majesty puts on an attitude of not wanting to force her, refusing the marriage alliance will be perfectly logical."
Xiao Chengjing stroked his chin and considered it for a long time, unable to make a decision in his heart for the moment.
"You may step down first. Do not tell anyone else about this matter for now."
Wu Jianzheng first nodded, then asked again, "Not even telling the Linghui Princess of the County?"
Xiao Chengjing nodded. "No need to tell her. I have my own plans for this matter. Everything can wait until the Shuobei Kingdom's marriage proposal delegation arrives in the capital."
At the entrance of the desolate Ye Manor, the messenger soldier, who had just gone back to change his clothes, knocked on the main door of the Ye Manor.
"Is Lord Ye in the manor? My general has something for me to tell Lord Ye."
The gatekeeper asked in confusion, "May I ask which general it is?"
The soldier replied, "General Qin Guo, the Commander of the Jinglei Army."
Hearing this, the gatekeeper hurriedly opened the door to let the person into the manor.
"My lord is not in the manor. Please wait a moment, sir. I will go call Steward Yunhe."
Half a cup of tea's time later, Yunhe walked briskly into the front hall.
"Sir, I wonder what General Qin Guo is looking for my lord for?"
The soldier did not answer Yunhe's question, but continued to inquire about Ye Liangyu's whereabouts.
"Is Lord Ye still on duty at the Censorate? When will he be back?"
Yunhe looked him up and down and, seeing his serious face as if he had an important matter, finally explained, "My lord is staying at the Princess of the County's manor during this time. If the matter is very important, I will take you there now."
Without a second thought, the soldier said straightforwardly, "The Young General specifically instructed that the letter must be delivered into Lord Ye's hands personally. Please take me there, Steward."
Yunhe nodded. Without going through the front door, he led the person out the back door and arrived at the Princess of the County's manor.
Half an hour later, Ye Liangyu, who was lying on the sickbed, gradually darkened in complexion after opening the letter.
By the time he finished reading it, his eyes had turned completely dark, as thick as ink.
Seeing this, Song Shixue, who was pounding medicine, asked curiously.
"Lord Ye, has something happened?"
Ye Liangyu put the letter down absentmindedly. "The Emperor of the Shuobei Kingdom wants your elder sister to be his imperial concubine."
With a clang, the iron pestle for pounding medicine smashed into the stone jar, and Song Shixue stood frozen in place.
After blinking and snapping out of it, she quickly ran out from behind the cabinet, moving so fast that her figure became a blur.
After picking up the letter by Ye Liangyu's hand and reading it quickly, Song Shixue was so angry that her chest felt tight.
She opened her mouth and cursed loudly, "A toad wanting to eat swan meat!"
"What kind of thing does that Emperor of the Shuobei Kingdom think he is, daring to covet my sister! He is not even worthy of carrying my sister's shoes."
In a fit of anger, with a ripping sound, the letter in Song Shixue's hands was torn into two halves.
