The envoy Dongyou stayed in Dayong for half a month. During this period, Sicang was busy and often went out to discuss official matters with Fu Nanchuan and Xi Feng. Yun Zishu, on the other hand, traveled back and forth between the Princess Mansion and the Imperial Palace, entering the palace.
, leaving the palace, meeting the Queen Mother, and meeting the Emperor, there is almost no free time.
In late September, with the announcement of the imperial examination in autumn, which attracted much attention, the envoys of Dongyou, who had already discussed the marriage, decided to return home. Before returning, Emperor Zhaoming held a grand farewell banquet for them.
Xi Feng picked up the wine glass and said in a humble tone: "I will take the portrait of the princess back to the prince. This is the request of the prince. He cares about his future wife very much and hopes that the emperor will treat the princess well.
"
After hearing these words, Emperor Zhaoming's expression darkened, and that strange feeling emerged again.
Bringing a portrait means that the choice between you and your loved ones can no longer be changed. It must be Yun Zishu, and it can only be Yun Zishu.
And remind him to be kind to the princess?
What does this mean? Is it a threat?
After being emperor for many years, Emperor Zhaoming had a deep and sharp mind, and could easily hear the deeper meaning in the other party's words. At this moment, he suddenly felt that marrying Yun Zishu was not a wise decision at all.
Ever since Dongyou entered Dayong, he had been hampered by the marriage issue and manipulated by Yun Zishu. The fundamental reason was the sudden increase in troops at the border.
This is a clear threat.
However, Dongyou's envoy had a kind attitude and showed no intention of fighting when discussing the marriage, as if the sudden increase of 150,000 troops was just for the purpose of marrying the bride.
At this moment, feeling a little worried in his heart, Emperor Zhaoming said calmly: "Has His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Dongyou ever met my legitimate princess?"
Xi Feng's answer was accurate: "To be honest, my Crown Prince was found recently. He seemed to have been to Dayong before. It was His Royal Highness's own decision to marry the princess. On this matter, the Crown Prince's attitude was extremely
Be tough, the emperor and the queen only have one son, so they can only follow him."
Emperor Zhaoming's heart sank.
Prince Dongyou visited Dayong? When did it happen?
He was just found... Does this mean that Prince Dongyou didn't grow up in the palace?
Things seemed to be getting more and more confusing, and Emperor Zhaoming felt suspicious for a while, so he could only nod his head: "Please convey this to the prince when you get back. Dayong is full of sincerity and will definitely live up to his expectations."
Xi Feng raised his wine glass: "Thank you very much, His Majesty the Emperor. After I go back and report to the Emperor, Dongyou will prepare the betrothal gift and arrange for the envoys to come to Dayong on a certain day to welcome the bride. His Highness the Crown Prince means that it will be an auspicious day."
Sooner rather than later, we can get this matter done by the beginning of the new year at most."
When Emperor Zhaoming heard this, he couldn't help but count the time in his mind. It was already the end of September, and there were still more than three months before the end of the year. By the end of the new year and the beginning of spring... there was plenty of time, enough for them to prepare for the dowry, select escorts and escorts.
So he nodded and raised his wine cup: "I wish you all a safe journey."
During the dinner, Situ Lingyi was drinking by himself, and his expression looked unhappy. Emperor Zhaoming did not miss his gloomy expression, his eyes passed over his face, he looked at the other envoys calmly, and then he closed his eyes and drank.
Cover up the dark color under your eyes.
Except for Fu Nanchuan, Situ Lingyi and Xifeng left Dayong with other envoys on the same day.
Emperor Zhaoming became more and more suspicious, so he ordered someone to go to Concubine De's palace. The newly arrived Concubine De led the palace staff to greet the concubine. Emperor Zhaoming said in a gentle tone: "Concubine, please come back quickly."
Situ Xue looked a little depressed. Emperor Zhaoming held her hand and asked, "What's wrong with my beloved concubine?"
"I'm fine," Situ Xue said in a low voice, "I just learned that the envoy left today, which made me feel sour and uncomfortable."
Emperor Zhaoming understood her mood and immediately comforted her: "I feel sorry for you. It's your first time here. Is your concubine not used to the living habits here? If you have any requests, you can ask me and I will try my best to satisfy you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After Emperor Zhaoming entered the palace, he took her arm and sat down on the couch together: "I have something to ask my beloved concubine."
"What does the Emperor want to ask?"
"The prince of Dongyou...didn't you live in the palace before?"
Situ Xue nodded: "Don't stop."
"Why?"
Situ Xue shook his head: "I don't know the specific situation. I only know that His Highness the Crown Prince is the only heir to Dongyou, and the princess will be the Crown Princess after she marries her. Your Majesty does not need to worry about this issue."
Emperor Zhaoming was silent for a moment and thought of what Zishu had said before. The princess clearly didn't mean it at first. She said that Zishu's situation would not be very good after marrying her. The Dongyou royal family looked down on Dayong at all and said that they could choose one.
A noblewoman from a famous family may be the Crown Princess, or perhaps the Dongyou royal family already has an unofficial Crown Princess.
Will Princess Dayong be controlled by others if she marries her? What is the purpose of Concubine De telling Zishu? Does she want to destroy this marriage?
If she really has the purpose of sabotaging the marriage, is that enough to prove that there is a conflict of interest?
But Dongyou's envoy made it clear that their crown prince only wanted a legitimate princess.
Emperor Zhaoming realized that what Concubine De said was not credible, and the current situation of the Dongyou royal family might not be clear for a while.
"Why didn't the emperor speak?" Situ Xue looked at him puzzled, "Does the emperor want to know something about the prince? In fact, I don't know much about the prince's specific situation. The royal family...well, what I mean is
The father and the queen have been hiding it, and no one has revealed it."
Hiding the truth from the prince?
Emperor Zhaoming really didn't understand. What was there to hide about the prince of a country? Haven't the ministers in Dongyou seen their prince? Not even his own sisters?
"Where are the other princes of Dongyou?"
"No." Concubine De lowered her eyes, "The royal family has few heirs just because there is only one heir to the crown prince."
Emperor Zhaoming pondered, there is only one prince in Dongyou, not even a competitor?
He couldn't help but wonder, would the lack of royal heirs lead to the decline of imperial power and the weakening of the family? Is Prince Dongyou's insistence on marrying Princess Dayong a way to unite the forces of the two countries and suppress the disobedience of various parties?
Big family?
It seems to be explainable, but it is not completely consistent with common sense. After all, marriage with a family in one's own country will bring immediate benefits, but marriage between countries is not actually that convenient.
The most important thing is that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince seems to be quite mysterious. Is it because he has too few heirs and has been protected since childhood? Or is there some other hidden secret?
Unable to get any more information from Concubine De, Emperor Zhaoming suddenly thought of Sicang, and decided to call Sicang into the palace to ask.
At this time, in the princess's palace, Yun Zishu was sitting leisurely in the flower hall admiring the flowers: "There will be a banquet tomorrow, and I will entertain a few people in the palace."
"Who does Your Highness want to entertain?" Leng Yue brought the fruits over, "Is your subordinate preparing the post now?"
"Princess Baozhu from Prince Rong's Palace, Princess Huazhu from Prince Kang's Palace, Wu Jingyi, the granddaughter of Taifu Wu's family, and..." Yun Zishu paused slightly, "Let Su Muchen's sister come over later."