Chapter 2604: Another Visitor (Part 1)
Chapter 2604: Chapter 2604: Another Visitor (Part 1)
That evening, after Gu Qingheng returned, he talked with Yang Ruxin about the princess and crown prince of Jin Country.
"In recent years, Mongolia, a neighboring country of Jin, has been developing rapidly, and its expansion ambition has long been evident. Their expansion path is either southward or northward, but the north is cold, not as prosperous as our Central Plains Region. But if they want to go south, they must first destroy Jin Country and then Yuan Country, only afterward they can go south." Gu Qingheng was holding a small rattle drum, playing with three beans. He bought it on the street when he just returned, "On the other hand, Jin Country has been developing much slower. For the past few years, it was caught in the struggle for succession. Three years ago, Wanyan Liang killed his brother and sister to win. So, to stand out, they must seek an alliance, and our Daxuan is the primary choice. Hence, they seized the occasion of the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s birthday to propose a diplomatic marriage."
The Emperor’s birthday falls on the third of the twelfth lunar month, and the Empress Dowager’s is on the nineteenth of the same month, not far apart.
"If they are seeking us, why propose a diplomatic marriage?" Yang Ruxin frowned.
"An alliance is reciprocal." Gu Qingheng raised his eyes to glance at the woman, "Yuan Country eyes us greedily, the Mogul Kingdom also wants to devour our fat piece, and then there’s Nanzhao. If we turn against Jin Country, we’ll be beset on all sides. Only a diplomatic marriage is the most reliable."
Yang Ruxin nodded, "Indeed, I didn’t consider this aspect."
"Moreover, they are looking to marry the Crown Princess Consort, who would later become Jin Country’s Queen. This shows sincerity."
"But I find that crown prince’s character mediocre." Yang Ruxin sighed, "He belongs to the ruthless type, such a pity for Fangfei."
"Compassion is the biggest taboo for those in power." Gu Qingheng chuckled, "If he weren’t ruthless, he’d have been a casualty in the succession struggles of the past five or six years."
"I know. It’s just heartbreaking for Fangfei, isn’t it?"
Gu Qingheng didn’t reply, immersing himself in playing with the three beans.
In the following days, Wanyan Ningshuang was reportedly unwell and didn’t appear again. Without her presence, the atmosphere among people was much more harmonious and pleasant. Wanyan Liang had fewer demands, so Gu Qingheng returned earlier each day.
The Emperor finally issued an edict, announcing a banquet in the palace in five days to entertain Jin Country’s crown prince and princess, and allowed officials above the fifth-rank to bring their families to attend.
Yang Ruxin didn’t want to go, but the Empress Dowager commanded her to bring the three beans into the palace, with the reason being the old lady missed seeing small children.
Yang Ruxin felt powerless to retort, thinking, "You have your own two grandsons, why miss seeing her children?" But how could she voice this? She had no choice but to comply with the decree.
But before the day of the banquet arrived, an unexpected visitor came.
"Who did you say came?" Yang Ruxin asked upon hearing Gu Di’s report, momentarily doubting her hearing.
"Minister of Rites, Gu Daren, submitted a card to visit Old Master Shu." Gu Di repeated, handing over the card.
Yang Ruxin looked towards Gu Qingheng; it was his rare day off, the first break after returning to the capital.
Gu Qingheng sneered, "How dare he come? He ran into me twice on the street before, but I ignored him. He also tried to chance upon my grandfather but failed to talk. It’s come to the point where he couldn’t bear it anymore, and now he’s directly come over. Before you arrived, Xinxin, he came once and I drove him away."