The words were laced with a tone of condescension.
She didn't find anything wrong with that. Compared to her, what was Yun Shu worth?
Given the choice, no one would ever pick Yun Shu over her!
It seemed the Night King cared about this point, fearing the rumors that people would say he abandoned his wife of humble origins?
That's easy to solve, she'd come up with a solution, and that would resolve everything?
Suddenly, Zhan Tian Ye exuded a chilling aura, looking at Princess Sheng Yue as if she were already dead.
Yet, Princess Sheng Yue didn't notice Zhan Tian Ye's gaze. Instead, she turned to Zhan Tian Hong. "Emperor of Yong Ning, grant the marriage now. The person I wish to ally with through marriage is the Night King."
Zhan Tian Hong was taken aback by Princess Sheng Yue's direct request.
He hadn't made a decision yet.
Because, in Princess Sheng Yue's words, the disposal of Yun Shu was too dismissive.
And now his fifth brother, who looked like he was already contemplating murder. Perhaps the imperial decree for marriage would be issued one moment, and the next, his fifth brother would risk everything.
"Princess Sheng Yue, I do not fancy you," Zhan Tian Ye stated plainly.
Upon hearing this, Princess Sheng Yue's face contorted. "What did you say?"
He said he didn't fancy her?
The officials lowered their heads.
Zhan Tian Yu stared at Zhan Tian Ye in astonishment. He had actually rejected Princess Sheng Yue so directly? He completely disregarded the Western Xia Kingdom?
A terrifying silence fell upon the entire hall.
If it was about an alliance through marriage, almost no one would refuse, but the Night King could!
As long as the Night King didn't want it, the Emperor probably couldn't force him.
And this princess from Western Xia, had she not investigated the Night King before coming to our Dong Ning Kingdom? How could the Night King of Dong Ning be led around by a woman? Moreover, who didn't know that lately the Night King's eyes were only for Yun Shu.
Besides Yun Shu, the Night King had never given any other woman a second glance.
Perhaps, in his eyes, women were no different from men.
The fact that so many women sent to his manor in the past had nearly met their demise was enough to illustrate the Night King's ruthlessness and heartlessness.
Thus, some even said that the Night King might prefer men, and was indifferent to women, so he must be attentive to men.
It's just that no one dared to test whether the Night King truly preferred men.
After all, they feared death. Moreover, the Night King had been crippled for five years. During these five years, the Night King's temperament had been even more erratic, and no one dared to approach him.
At this moment, seeing Zhan Tian Ye's disdain for the Western Xia princess, the officials were not surprised by the reason.
However, Zhan Tian Yu, who had been away from the capital for a long time, and Princess Sheng Yue, who had just arrived, both turned pale.
In fact, the officials, to some extent, speculated that an alliance through marriage was crucial for the stability of both countries. Dong Ning and Western Xia had frequently clashed years ago, and only recently had things improved. Now that Western Xia was proactively seeking an alliance through marriage, if it succeeded, Dong Ning would not face further wars, and at least decades of stability could be assured.
But why did she have to choose the Night King among all the princesses of Western Xia?
Moreover, their current predicament was that they couldn't fathom the Emperor's thoughts.
The Emperor seemed to be hesitating.
Under these circumstances, the officials dared not utter another word.
"Give me a reason. I am of royal blood from Western Xia. In what aspect do you find me lacking? I wish to ally with you through marriage to provide stability for your Dong Ning Kingdom, yet you dismiss me so contemptuously!" Princess Sheng Yue finally regained her composure after a long while, staring intently at Zhan Tian Ye, questioning him relentlessly.
She felt increasingly that if the events of today were to spread, how would she be able to face anyone in the future?
If the people of Western Xia found out, they would surely burst into laughter!
Wouldn't she be utterly disgraced?
At this moment, she also begrudgingly resented Yun Shu, wondering what method that enchantress had used to so completely capture the Night King's heart?
Zhan Tian Ye sneered. "Since when has Dong Ning's stability needed the charity of Western Xia?"
He looked at Zhan Tian Hong. "Does Your Majesty believe that Dong Ning will rely on Western Xia in the future and become a vassal state of Western Xia?"
The officials dared not breathe.
How could that be?
Western Xia and Dong Ning were almost evenly matched.
How could they become a vassal state of Western Xia?
Wouldn't that make the world laugh its head off?
They, these subjects and commoners, would be shamed.
Princess Sheng Yue, uncharacteristically, began to panic. Her eyes flickered, and she gritted her teeth. "I didn't mean that. You know, an alliance through marriage is beneficial for both Dong Ning and Western Xia. I am merely asking the Night King to weigh the pros and cons!"
Zhan Tian Hong's expression darkened. He saw in Princess Sheng Yue the contempt of the Western Xia Emperor, a contempt directed at him, a young emperor.
He said sternly, "The matter of alliance through marriage is not urgent. We shall discuss it another day."
"Your Majesty, the alliance through marriage cannot be delayed. Princess Sheng Yue has traveled a great distance, solely for the sake of the people of both nations. She is willing to trade her own lifelong happiness for the amity between the two countries. Thus, Dong Ning should indeed show some sincerity..." Zhan Tian Yu quickly reacted, desperately trying to salvage the situation.
If this matter today didn't resolve smoothly, things might become difficult ahead.
Princess Sheng Yue clenched her fists tightly, furious to the point of madness. With a dark expression, she looked at Zhan Tian Ye. "Night King, how am I inferior to a common woman?"
In her eyes, Yun Shu was merely a commoner whom she could eliminate at any time!
"In my eyes, no woman in this world can compare to her," Zhan Tian Ye said coldly.
Then, he turned to Zhan Tian Hong. "Regarding the alliance through marriage, perhaps Your Majesty could take Princess Sheng Yue into your harem. The harem is currently lacking a Consort. I shall take my leave first. If anything arises, Your Majesty can send for me."
With that, he left directly.
Staring at Zhan Tian Ye's resolute departing back, Princess Sheng Yue's face turned ashen.
Utterly humiliated!
Good!
She would go and see what kind of woman Yun Shu was!
How could she make the Night King, in front of her and so many people, trample her dignity underfoot, and then say that no woman in the world could compare to Yun Shu! She refused to believe it!
"Princess Sheng Yue, it might be better to consider the alliance through marriage at length," Zhan Tian Yu reminded her gently.
He was secretly getting a headache. Why had Western Xia sent such an arrogant princess? He remembered that Western Xia had many princesses, and even many of noble rank. Why did they specifically choose Princess Sheng Yue?
Actually, Zhan Tian Yu did not know that the Emperor of Western Xia had his own considerations. He knew the Night King well and understood that a timid princess would absolutely not be able to control the Night King, so he had chosen the most arrogant and bold one.
However, this was also the most risky.
Zhan Tian Hong remained silent.
After all, everything that needed to be said had already been spoken by his fourth brother.
...
The scene that unfolded in the palace eventually leaked out.
It completely overturned the initial rumors.
Yun Shu learned of the news after waking from her nap.
However, what she didn't expect was that Princess Sheng Yue would come looking for her.