The Grand Duke raised his wine glass slightly, and Ji Ka, who was accompanying him, filled it with bright red wine.
"Yes, Grandpa."
Rostislav didn't know what kind of medicine his grandfather was selling in this gourd, so he gave a direct answer, but he was full of doubts in his heart. Didn't his grandfather know his age?
"Well, 15 years old is pretty good."
The Grand Duke drank the wine in one gulp, as if he was brewing something.
"This is the age for marriage. If someone asks me to arrange a marriage for you, it depends on whether you agree or not."
"What?"
Rostislav did not react to this sudden news. Why did he suddenly talk about his marriage? This was too sudden.
"She is the daughter of an emperor in the imperial capital. Although the emperor has been ousted from the throne for ten years, his children and influence are still there. It depends on whether you are willing or not. This marriage cannot be a loss for you."
Yaroslav continued to add more information to persuade his grandson to accept the marriage.
"The woman is about the same age as you, and her dowry is quite generous. There will even be a group of soldiers and bureaucrats from the imperial capital joining her in the future."
"Wait, stop."
Grandfather's wave of ecstasy made him dizzy, but the prince still didn't agree immediately. He had to stop and ask what was going on.
"Whose daughter is this imperial princess?"
"The daughter of Michael V."
"The emperor who was overthrown in 1042?"
"Yes."
Michael V, Rostislav knew this name, was the most rebellious and traitorous emperor in the Southern Empire in the past hundred years. His origins and deeds were full of misdeeds, and his radical reforms offended the nobles. It can be said that his overthrow was inevitable.
It is said that my father and Uncle Visatta sent troops to the south because of the chaos in 1042. My father wanted to seize this opportunity to see if they could conquer the big city, but the result was a tragic failure. Fortunately, both of them survived.
I'm back.
"Okay, Grandpa, please tell me what's going on. This kind of pie-in-the-sky thing is impossible for no reason."
Rostislav sat down in front of his grandfather with a questioning look in his eyes. It seemed strange that he could so easily obtain the support of a wife and a group of bureaucrats and soldiers.
"Hmph, you are as smart as your father, but don't worry, I won't harm you."
An appreciative smile appeared on Yaroslav's face. He liked Rostislav very much.
"Do you remember your uncle Visatar's time in the dungeons of the Imperial City?"
"Of course I remember that Uncle Visatta has always been proud of that experience. After all, being a guest in the dungeon of the Imperial Capital is not something you can see everywhere, and he came back intact."
When Visatar told him this story, it was like telling a legend. The friendship within the shield wall, the unyielding face of the torturers, and the return home after going through hardships, in the eyes of his uncle, this was
A path of glory.
"When Visatta and the others were captured, I spent a lot of money and resources to ask for mediation to fish out these unlucky guys who were captured by the imperial army."
Yaroslav's eyes flashed with memories when he told the stories of the past. In those days, he was really looking for people to have relationships with, and the money he spent was like running water.
"And the mediator I found is the one who asked me for marriage this time. His name is Leo."
"It seems that this person should be a high-ranking person in the imperial capital. Why did he come to Ross?"
Rostislav subconsciously rolled his head. Judging from what his grandfather said, this man should be a high-ranking official in the imperial capital. Staying in the imperial capital is better than being in cold Rus.
But the next moment Rostislav also realized what was going on, because this senior official of the imperial capital was now bringing the daughter of Michael V to Russia for marriage, and Michael V was undoubtedly the most rebellious and treacherous monarch in the Southern Empire.
, then that senior official was so close to this group of people, how could he not be liquidated.
But then a new question arose. Since this guy is from Michael V, it has been more than ten years since Michael V fell. How can this guy persist with so many people until now?
"Leo is not a powerful person. He was just a matchmaker back then, but what I lack is a matchmaker. As for why he can gather a group of people, it's because all the masters above him are dead, so he can make money."
Ao is still qualified to lead them, but don't take these people too seriously. They were all betting too heavily and couldn't jump out of the boat, so they and their descendants have been affected by the wrong side to this day. As for why they came to Ross.
, the root cause is also because of Leo. He originally escaped the liquidation, but it seems that some bad things he did recently were exposed, and he has been hiding for a while. I guess he wants to take advantage of his influence to lead people.
Come to the north to try your luck, and he also has the legitimate daughter of Michael V, which is also a good card."
His grandfather's words made Rostislav think twice. His grandfather's understanding of the imperial capital was beyond his imagination. He was fully aware of the changes in the political situation within the Eastern Empire, which was really surprising.
"I suggest you accept this marriage. Among my children and grandchildren, you are the only man of suitable age. Moreover, by marrying this Greek girl, you can also get help from the people behind her. It is an excellent choice for you now.
.”
Facing yet another persuasion from his grandfather, Rostislav's mind started racing. He had to make a decision about his marriage less than half an hour after he arrived, and he couldn't help but feel a little dizzy.
Rostislav understood that although his grandfather said he was allowed to choose, in fact everything had already been decided, and asking for his opinion here was just a formality.
But Rostislav had no complaints about this. His children and grandchildren were just puppets of their elders, paired up in pairs under their control, and then until these puppets grew up, they controlled their children.
The choice given by my grandfather was indeed a good one, and it was quite a profit for the dilapidated emperor's daughter to be paired with him, the future little prince of Russia. After all, she was a serious princess of the imperial capital no matter what.
Moreover, he can also obtain some subjects from Byzantium, who will give him pillows when he is sleepy. He currently lacks the most intellectuals and bureaucrats. This group of people can be of great use when he goes to the territory in the future.
"Then I leave everything to you, Grand Duke."
After thinking about it, Rostislav agreed to his grandfather's request, and a smile appeared on Yaroslav's face.
"Okay, I'll send a letter to the south right away asking them to come over. When the bride arrives, the wedding will start immediately."
"Yes, Grand Duke."
Seeing that his grandfather Rostislav was a little discouraged, his life-long affairs were decided like this, but he soon regained his composure.
No matter what, life has to go on after all, it’s not about getting married, it’s not about letting him die, it’s just that he doesn’t know what his fiancée looks like...