At the banquet, the Emperor looked at Xiao Man in her battle attire and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Princess Yongning, why are you wearing battle attire?"
Xiao Man rose and replied, "Your Majesty, I am now your chief of the Imperial Guard, not the Princess Yongning you dote on. I must remain vigilant at all times to prevent anyone from harboring ill intentions towards Your Majesty."
"You are too cautious, my girl."
"It concerns Your Majesty's safety, and I dare not be careless."
"Today is the Lantern Festival, and you should relax a bit." The Emperor's gaze shifted to the envoys from the two countries. "It is also to welcome the envoys from Blue Moon and to wish the envoys from Cloud Rise a pleasant stay in our Yusheng."
"Your Majesty Yu, my reason for traveling to Yusheng this time is that our Empress wishes to forge an eternal alliance with Yusheng," Yao Ran said slowly. "As a token of our sincerity, I have brought our Third Princess."
Lan Qin's expression changed. So, Yao Ran brought her along to make her a sacrifice for a political marriage!
Lan Qin's face was covered by a veil. As many people had seen her face, she wore it to avoid revealing her identity. Fortunately, the General's mansion had announced the second daughter's death from illness. Otherwise, Xiao Man might have disfigured her face to absolve the General's mansion of suspicion.
Xiao Man glanced at Lan Qin, noticing her flustered demeanor. She guessed Lan Qin had no idea Yao Ran would sell her out. To be precise, while she was nominally a princess, in reality, she was just a pawn that could be discarded at any time.
"Which of our princes has caught the Third Princess's eye?" the Emperor asked with a smile. If the alliance with Cloud Rise failed, a successful alliance with Blue Moon would make Cloud Rise hesitate to make any moves, even if they wanted to.
Yao Ran glanced at Lan Qin, signaling her to look across the table. Seated directly opposite Lan Qin were Nangong Yan, Nangong Yu, and Nangong Yi. Currently, anyone but Nangong Yi was a viable option.
Nangong Yan had just lost his Consort, while Nangong Yu was unmarried. As a princess of Blue Moon, Lan Qin certainly could not be a concubine. Therefore, her husband candidate must be among Nangong Yu and Nangong Yan.
Lan Qin remained seated. Yao Ran's eyes slightly chilled. "Third Princess, Your Majesty Yu asked which prince has caught your eye."
Lan Qin looked at Yao Ran, suppressing her anger. She rose, poured a cup of wine, and held it as she looked across the table. After a moment, she walked directly to Nangong Yan. "This humble girl has long admired His Highness Prince Chu."
Nangong Yan remained seated and calmly said, "Thank you, Third Princess, for your favor. However, my Consort passed away not long ago, and I am still in mourning. How could I take another wife and betray the Third Princess's kind intentions? I beg for your understanding."
Lan Qin heard this and angrily threw the wine cup in her hand. "Does Prince Chu look down on this princess?"
"Please forgive me, Third Princess. It is not that I look down on you, but rather that my wife has just passed away, and I must observe mourning for her!" Nangong Yan stated calmly.
"Oh, Prince Chu must observe mourning for his Consort. For how long? A lifetime?"
"Three years. Within three years, I will not remarry," Nangong Yan stated decisively.
"If that is the case, then, Your Highness, can you set a marriage contract with this princess? We can hold the grand ceremony three years later." Lan Qin immediately said. Did Yao Ran want her to choose Nangong Yu? How could she comply? What kind of person was Nangong Yu? He would not show tender loving care to women. Moreover, she knew that Nangong Yu and Xiao Man had a close relationship. If she dared to choose Nangong Yu, he would throw her out on the spot. Nangong Yan, however, was not so extreme! Su Dan Novels.
"This..."
"Your Majesty Yu, what do you think?" Lan Qin did not give Nangong Yan a chance to refuse. "Prince Chu and his Consort shared deep affection, and he cannot bear to take a new wife while his Consort's body is still not cold. Lan Qin will enter into a betrothal with Prince Chu, and after His Highness completes his three years of mourning, we will hold the grand wedding ceremony. This way, no one will think Prince Chu is heartless, nor will it affect the alliance with Blue Moon. It is truly the best of both worlds."
"Very well, it is decided." The old Emperor readily agreed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty Yu." Lan Qin smiled gratefully and returned to her seat. She met Yao Ran's dangerous gaze without fear and calmly sat down. It seemed no one wanted her to return to Blue Moon. Her only fallback now was Xiao Man!
Lan Qin looked at Xiao Man. Xiao Man's lips curved into a sarcastic smile. It seemed Yao Ran and Lan Qin were not on good terms. Lan Qin had been lurking abroad for many years, and her influence within Blue Moon was likely almost completely eradicated. Yao Ran, on the other hand, had deep roots in Blue Moon. Even if she were to kill Lan Qin, the Empress of Blue Moon would not blame her.
An opportunity! A faint glimmer flashed in Xiao Man's eyes, and her fingers tapped rhythmically on the tabletop.
Lan Qin looked at Xiao Man, her gaze falling on Xiao Man's tapping fingers. Xiao Man had once taught her a unique communication method using tapping and the length of pauses to convey messages.
Lan Qin watched for a moment, then withdrew her gaze, a hint of joy in her eyes. It seemed Xiao Man was also interested. Perfect, she could use her to deal with Yao Ran, and perhaps she could reap the benefits.
Yao Ran's gaze swept across the opposite side and noticed that the eyes of the three princes were all fixed on Xiao Man. Xiao Man was drinking alone, not looking at anyone else, only occasionally speaking to Nangong Wu, who was sitting with her. She seemed indifferent to everything else.
Du Yulan's gaze followed Nangong Yi's to Xiao Man. Her beautiful eyes were filled with intense hatred. Xiao Zhen's death was just the beginning. Xiao Man, the pain you have caused me, I will repay tenfold, a hundredfold.
Suddenly, Xiao Man raised her eyes and met Du Yulan's still lingering gaze. Xiao Man's eyes were filled with coldness, her clear pupils like a bottomless cold pool, intending to draw Du Yulan in and drown her.
Du Yulan felt as if she could not breathe, clutching her collar tightly and gasping for air. Nangong Yi, sitting beside her, noticed her distress and turned to look.
"Consort, are you alright?"
Du Yulan quickly lowered her head, hiding the fear in her eyes. In that moment, a surge of terror rose from the depths of her heart, gripping it tightly and making it impossible for her to breathe.
Nangong Yi patted Du Yulan's back, helping her to regain her breath. The Empress Dowager, seated in a high position, wore a benevolent smile. "What is wrong with Consort Qi? Are you feeling unwell?"
Du Yulan steadied herself. "Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, this humble subject is fine. I merely felt a little chest tightness, but I am much better now."
"If you are unwell, there is no need to force yourself. Prince Qi, accompany the Consort out for a walk. Perhaps the hall is too stuffy."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Nangong Yi helped Du Yulan leave the hall. Du Taishi, seeing that the Empress Dowager and Prince Qi were both protecting his granddaughter, breathed a sigh of relief. His gaze swept over Xiao Man, and seeing her lowering her head to eat, as if she had seen nothing, a strange feeling flickered in his heart. He always felt that something unknown had happened between his granddaughter and Xiao Man!