Rumors in the city spread like wildfire, and everyone was waiting for news.
After patiently waiting in peace for a few days, Xiao Chengjing summoned the Minister of Rites, Kang Zhibo, into the palace.
"Wang Nie has almost fully recovered. Go to the Huitong Guest House and tell them to choose one: either take a daughter from the imperial clan, or we marry off a princess to them."
Kang Zhibo lowered his voice with a distressed look. "What if they refuse to choose either?"
Xiao Chengjing's face turned cold. "Then tell them to get the hell out. The Dongzhao Kingdom doesn't have extra free rice to feed them. Regardless, there is no way Princess Linghui is marrying into the Shuobei Kingdom."
Kang Zhibo clenched his jaw and bowed his head deeply in a salute.
"I understand, Your Majesty. I will go negotiate right away."
Inside the Huitong Guest House, Wang Nie leaned back in his chair, frustrated and powerless, racking his brains.
Dongzhao's attitude during the morning assembly that day had been far too unyielding. For a moment, he had no idea how to complete the mission He Mingyuan had assigned to him.
Seeing his distress, Qi Xiong, who stood nearby cradling his sword, tried to comfort him. "Minister Wang, there is no need to worry. I have already sent a messenger riding whip and spur back to Yandu. I believe it won't be long before His Majesty issues an edict."
Wang Nie sighed heavily and shot Qi Xiong a glance, a hint of complaint in his voice.
"No matter how fast, it will still take two months. You heard what Fan Guanshan said when he came over the other day; Prince Qi's body is ruined. Tell me, why couldn't you have gone a little easier on him? Even if he is blind, he is still a prince."
Qi Xiong tightened his grip on his weapon and glanced down.
"The situation was urgent at the time. I was too busy saving you to hold back. I truly didn't expect Xiao Rongche to be so useless that a light kick would cost him half his life."
Wang Nie sighed again.
"The Emperor of Dongzhao refused to let Song Jinzhao enter a marriage alliance. Originally, we were in the right. But now that Prince Qi is severely injured, the situation will be entirely different once word gets out."
"The time for war has not yet come, so this marriage alliance must be settled one way or another."
Not long after the two finished speaking, Cao Mo led Kang Zhibo into the courtyard.
"Seeing that Lord Wang is in good spirits puts me and His Majesty at ease." The pleasantries arrived before the man himself even stepped up.
As fellow Ministers of Rites, Wang Nie knew exactly what kind of person the other man was.
Annoyed, Wang Nie propped his forehead with his hand.
"May I ask what brings Minister Kang here today? Since I woke up, my energy has been far worse than before. This is the only time of day I feel somewhat alert, but I still get drowsy after sitting for just a little while."
Kang Zhibo's mouth twitched, a flash of coldness crossing his eyes.
Energy far worse than before? He could fool a ghost with that nonsense.
"Is that so? I heard from Lord Cao that you've had an excellent appetite these past two days, demanding eight dishes and a soup for every meal. I thought you had fully recovered—unlike our Prince Qi, who cannot even keep water down."
Wang Nie looked at the ground, blinking rapidly, in desperate need of a subject change.
"My head is throbbing a bit, and I need to take a short nap. If Lord Kang has business, please make it quick."
A servant brought over a chair, and Kang Zhibo unceremoniously sat down.
"I have come on His Majesty's orders to ask you: for the marriage alliance, does your kingdom intend to choose a daughter of the imperial clan, or will you have a princess marry over?"
Wang Nie replied, "I cannot make that decision. I have already dispatched a letter overnight to Yandu and must wait for my Emperor's decree."
Kang Zhibo nodded slowly, his expression meaningful.
"From the capital to Yandu, a round trip takes at least two months. If the Chief Envoy does not plan to leave, I ask that you remain inside the Huitong Guest House and minimize your outings during this period."
Displeased, Qi Xiong gripped his sword.
"Are you trying to imprison us? Is this the Dongzhao Kingdom's way of treating guests?"
Kang Zhibo shook his head decisively and began to explain in an earnest tone.
"Of course not. It is just that rumors are rampant in the capital about how you severely injured Prince Qi. Furthermore, Princess Linghui holds great prestige among the common people, and they are unwilling to see her marry far away into Shuobei."
"If you were to go out, it is inevitable that you would be targeted. I am simply looking out for your own good."
Qi Xiong radiated a chilling aura. He wanted to lash out but could only hold it in, his face darker than the bottom of a pot.
Once Kang Zhibo and his entourage left, he kicked and shattered the doorframe.
"They push us too far! The day the Shuobei army conquers this capital, I will kill them all. I'll slice them into a thousand pieces!"
Being a civil official, Wang Nie repeatedly pressed his hands down to calm him.
"Keep your voice down! This is the capital, not Yandu. There are countless spies outside; be careful someone doesn't hear you."
Qi Xiong slammed his palm against a pillar.
"Let them hear! You think I'm afraid of them? Even if you gave them ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare kill us."
Wang Nie closed his eyes in sheer exhaustion.
Simple-minded and all brawn. If he had known better, he would have brought someone else with him.
