According to unofficial records, the third grand ceremony held by Nalan Duan, the old prime minister of the Mo Kingdom, was unprecedentedly lively. More than 40 people from the royal family of the Mo Kingdom, including the concubines and princes in the Queen (Harmony) Palace, came.

More than three hundred wise men from all over the country came, and more than four thousand ordinary people and envoys from other countries came... The noise was so loud that many hibernating wild animals woke up from their slumber. When spring came, they came out of the cave to explore.

And no fewer than ten thousand of them were frozen to death...

Of course, unofficial records contain many exaggerations and cannot be trusted at all, but the momentum at that time is enough to get a glimpse of it.

…

After Nalan Duan's third great sacrifice, three or five days later, Shang Fusu, who came to ask for his hand in marriage, arrived at the gate of Zhaoyang City with a group of attendants.

As early as when Shang Fusu entered the country, someone quickly reported this matter to Emperor Mo Sima Qing. Therefore, at this time, facing Shang Fusu who came to propose marriage, Sima Qing did not appear very surprised.

"According to what the princess said before, the person who solves the three riddles can come and be hired if he brings the things mentioned in the riddles. Emperor Mo, do you still remember?"

After being invited to enter the palace and sitting across from Sima Qing, Shang Fusu raised his head with a smile and asked him a question.

"How could such a big event be forgotten? Is it possible that Emperor Shang came here to propose marriage because he solved the riddle?"

Sima Qing was best at pretending to be confused while pretending to understand. When Shang Fusu mentioned this matter, he had a "surprised" look on his face, his eyes were bright, and he asked in disbelief.

"About this time last year, I received some advice from a wise man. I got the solution to the problem, but unexpectedly, the two countries were at war, and the military situation was urgent... I am not someone who takes advantage of the situation, so I couldn't help but come to the princess when the Mo country is in urgent need of a general.

The request for marriage and employment has been... postponed until now..."

Shang Fusu didn't seem to doubt Sima Qing's "surprise" at all. He just smiled as always, not even raising or lowering the corners of his lips. It was as if every word he said was made out of emotion.

From the bottom of my heart, I said from the bottom of my heart, "I think the princess is not young. Now, the three-year festival of the old prime minister has passed. The country of Mo is prosperous and prosperous, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. Emperor Mo... As the elder of the princess, right?

It’s time to think about life-long events for her?”

Shang Fusu's words were quite clever. First, he pointed out that the Shang State was generous and did not take advantage of the Mo State's troubles to come and cause trouble. It was a benevolent and righteous country. Secondly, it proposed the Nalan Duan Sacrifice.

It has passed. Nalan Xue's three-year period of filial piety has also expired. There is no reason to continue to delay the marriage. Third, tell Nalan Xue's great contribution to Mo Country. Sima Qing should treat her favorably and not delay her. Fourth, come

, lifted Sima Qing to the position of elder Nalanxue again, leaving him unable to find any reason to excuse his "responsibility".

"What Emperor Shang said is absolutely true."

Sima Qing nodded in agreement, with a look of deep approval on his face. However, it seemed that just for a moment, he changed to a look of helplessness. He sighed softly and looked at Shang Fusu, "But... Emperor Shang must also remember that a few times

Years ago, at the Four Nations Conference, I had already said that this girl’s marriage would be decided by her alone, and I would only give her ten miles of red makeup as a dowry after she selected her husband..."

"What Emperor Mo means is that I only need to get the princess's consent before I can marry her back?"

Unexpectedly, Sima Qing could be so "easy to talk to". Shang Fusu was slightly startled and frowned, still a little disbelieving. He looked at Sima Qing, who was sitting opposite him and was drinking tea leisurely, and asked, "Emperor Mo

……in spite of?"

"Even though she doesn't have the promise I promised her before, now she's remarried, and I can't help but make the decision!"

Sima Qing seemed to sigh in annoyance, grabbed the cup in front of him, raised his head, and drank the wine in one gulp, "When you first marry, you obey your father, and when you marry again, you are your own. Although I am her elder,

I have a very close personal relationship with her father, but now...don't say that I am just her elder...even if I am her biological father, I can't be the master!"

"Since Emperor Mo has said this, if I ask questions here again, it will be considered as deliberately making things difficult."

Shang Fusu calmed down a little and confessed to Sima Qing. Then he stood up with a smile and said goodbye, "I guess Emperor Mo still has state affairs to deal with. It's getting late, so I'll leave now."

It was already past noon on this day, so it was no longer appropriate to go to Nalan Mansion to propose marriage.

Shang Fusu took his guards with him and chose a relatively clean inn to stay. After freshening up a little, he changed into ordinary clothes and went out, planning to take advantage of his free time to go shopping.

I went to the bustling market of the country to see how businessmen in the Mo country did business, and when I returned to the Shang country, I also promoted it and popularized it.

…

In the early morning of the next day, Shang Fusu took his guards and the box containing the betrothal gift and headed to Nalan Mansion.

The gate of Nalan Mansion was open, and two boys were cleaning the house at the door. When they saw Shang Fusu and his party coming on horseback, they hurriedly stepped forward to stop them.

"Why did you two stop me?"

Shang Fusu was not an impatient person. When he saw the two boys coming up to block him like this, he knew that there must be something he didn't know about or a secret rule that he needed to follow, so he just smiled.

He smiled, not angry, and asked the two of them.

"Your Majesty gave you a monument of dismounting horses. Passing in front of the gate of Nalan Mansion, the civil servants got off their sedan chairs and the military attachés got off their horses."

One of the boys raised his head and looked at Shang Fusu and the others. Seeing that they were all very impressive and did not look like people who were deliberately causing trouble, he stretched out his hand and pointed to the stone tablet on the left side behind him and explained to Shang Fusu, "This is

It is the reward of my princess for her meritorious service in the battle. It is given by the emperor and established by the prince. No matter who it is, it must be followed... If it is inconvenient for you to dismount, then please take a detour..."

After hearing what the boy said, Shang Fusu was slightly startled. He raised his head and looked where he pointed. Sure enough, he saw a stone tablet as high as a person. On the top of the tablet were written three words: "Dismounting Monument".

Character.

"I'm here to propose marriage to your princess, so I can't go anywhere else."

Shang Fusu smiled lightly, jumped off the horse, and handed the box he was carrying to the boy. He didn't have the air of an emperor at all, he just had the attitude of an ordinary person who came to propose marriage, "Excuse me.

The younger brother sent a message to tell the princess that Shang Fusu has come to propose marriage."

Seeing that their emperor had dismounted, the guards who came with him had no choice but to stay on their horses and ruin their majesty's face. They exchanged glances with each other and jumped off their horses one after another. They stood behind Shang Fusu.

They formed two rows and secretly acted defensively.

"Uh... you're... here to propose marriage?"

Shang Fusu's reaction obviously surprised the boy sweeping the floor. He looked him up and down again, and saw that his face was sincere and did not look like he was lying at all. So he hurriedly left.

With the broom in his hand, he took the box he handed over, twisted around, and ran quickly towards the door. As he ran, he shouted, "Master Butler! Master Butler! There is a young man outside who says he is here to propose marriage to the princess.

!”

Several guards standing behind Shang Fusu couldn't help but laugh when they saw this young boy's reaction of "Someone has come to propose marriage." They thought to themselves, this Nalan Mansion is nothing more than

In this way, if a woman as wise and powerful as the Queen was born in the Shang Kingdom, look at that family, it would be strange that they would marry her out!

Hearing the impudence of his guards, Shang Fusu coughed somewhat displeasedly, which was considered as a warning to them and asked them to observe etiquette. Seeing that His Majesty was not happy, several guards quickly stopped smiling and stood up straight.

Get up, continue to defend and wait.

After about a cup of tea, a man dressed as an older butler followed the young man at a trot and came out of the house. After taking a look at Shang Fusu, he felt that he was not an ordinary person.

, he lowered his head and straightened his clothes, came forward, and bowed to him.

"Both of my young masters have gone to court, and there is no one in charge in the house."

When the housekeeper said this, he paused for a moment. Seeing that Shang Fusu had no reaction at all, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue, "I heard that your Excellency came to propose marriage to my princess. I wonder... what should I call you?"

"Surname is Shang, name is Fusu."

Shang Fusu's face was calm, and he was not irritated or angry at all because the housekeeper came and asked nonsense again. It was early in the morning, and both men of the Nalan family had gone to court. This was completely expected by him.

The reason why he chose this time to come was, firstly, to show his sincerity, and secondly, because he hoped to give himself and Nalanxue a chance to talk alone, "Your princess knows me, just go and talk to her."

That’s what she reported.”

"The princess felt cold yesterday and hasn't gotten up yet. Your Excellency, please wait a moment. I will inform the princess's wet nurse and ask her to pass the news on her behalf."

The housekeeper repeated the words in his mouth several times, as if to make sure he remembered it clearly and not to make any mistakes. Then, he agreed, saluted Shang Fusu again, turned around and walked into Nalan Mansion.

, while walking, he was still chattering, "Shang Fusu... Shang Fusu... How come this name is so familiar... But I must have seen or heard it somewhere..."

After half a day of burning incense, the door of Nalan Mansion was filled with people, and several people came in a hurry.

The leader is not Nalan Xue, who is it?!

At this time, Nalan Xue's face was a little pale and she didn't put on any makeup. She really looked like she had just been exposed to the cold as the housekeeper said before!

Seeing this, Shang Fusu couldn't help but feel distressed. Before she could go out, he stepped forward and called her, "Xue'er!"

"Why didn't Your Majesty send someone to inform you first? Look... Nalan Xue was completely unprepared..."

Nalan Xue seemed a little nervous and embarrassed. After hurriedly bowing to Shang Fusu, she took a few steps back and said, "The two brothers are not here either..."

"Why did you catch the cold? Look at your face, it's so ugly... Your two brothers, didn't you send someone to call the imperial doctor to treat you?"

As Shang Fusu spoke, he took off his cloak, stepped forward, and wrapped it around Nalan Xue, who looked a little shivering from the cold, "Why don't you wear more clothes? It's such a cold winter.

It’s just snowed again...Why don’t you go out without holding a hand stove!”

"I heard that Your Majesty was coming, and I was so anxious that I forgot about it."

Nalan Xue pursed her lips as if she was a little embarrassed, with a light blush on her face. She grabbed the edge of the cloak that Shang Fusu put on her with both hands and wrapped herself tightly, "

These two brothers have been busy with business these days. Xue was afraid of delaying them, so she asked her servants to hide the matter... If I had known... If I had known that His Majesty was coming, how could I have sent someone to look for him yesterday?

An imperial doctor is here for diagnosis and treatment... to save you from having to appear in front of His Majesty today..."

"Why are you showing off but not showing up? In my opinion, you are always good!"

Seeing that Nalan Xue was blushing and squirming, Shang Fusu couldn't help but feel overjoyed. Although he had never had a concubine, he had grown up in the palace and had seen many people going there.

The lady from a well-known family who was visiting the garden secretly expressed her love for someone, her face was red and her heart was beating, and she was nervous and twitchy... Nalan Xue looked like now. Isn't it just like the women he saw at that time? If it is said, this does not prove that,

She is seriously interested in him, and there is nothing else she can prove!

"Go and make inquiries and invite the best doctor in Zhaoyang City."

Seeing that none of the servants in Nalan Mansion had the intention to invite the doctor back, Shang Fusu couldn't help it, turned his head and gave an order to one of the guards. Then he turned back and saw

She turned to Nalan Xue. "Xue'er, since you have caught the wind and cold, you should have a good rest. It is absolutely not allowed to be blown by the cold wind like now! In this way, you can rest in the house first. I will be here waiting.
To be continued...