Nine out of ten gamblers lose; I've run into a jerk!

Chapter 126 Grand Ambition

"Why not?" Shen Qing turned around and raised an eyebrow.

Shen Yunxi frowned slightly. "The Shen family doesn't need a female general. Even if they are from military families, they won't let their daughters go to the military camp. Since ancient times, there has only been one type of woman in the military camp."

Shen Qing knew exactly what Shen Yunxi was referring to, and felt deeply disgusted.

"Second Sister is also well-read, how could she say such ignorant things? The history books of Wensi Pavilion also record many heroines."

Although there haven't been any recently, if we look at the long timeline and the entire river of history, every era has always produced a few extraordinary women who were exceptionally talented and broke free from worldly constraints.

Shen Yunxi sneered, "Is an isolated case and not reliable? There are countless men who have made it into history, but how many women are there?"

"Moreover, the gentry value rules and regulations. How can someone who spends all day in public and mingling with men possibly get married?"

"Rules? The tide of time rolls ever onward, and rules change again and again. Fifty years ago, sons of concubines were not allowed to become officials, and noble families did not intermarry with the sons of soldiers. What about now? Noble families that stick to the old rules have either been lost in the torrent of history, or, like the Du family, are sitting on the sidelines daydreaming about their past glory."

Seeing Shen Qing's nonchalant and eloquent speech, Shen Yunxi's disgust deepened; it was that same expression again.

An invisible tension filled the air between the two.

"Second sister, third sister, what are you talking about?" Qin Zhen's arrival broke the silence.

…………

Emperor Yongxi's decree was announced in less than half a day, granting Le'an the title of princess. She jumped twice within a month, but no one wanted such good fortune.

Due to the urgent military situation in the northern border, Le'an will be going to the Northern Desert with the delegation in ten days. There are too many things to prepare for the princess's marriage, so the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs are working overtime.

When Jiang Se heard the news, her heart skipped a beat, her blood rushed to her head and her vision went black for a moment. After she recovered, she felt her hands and feet were ice cold.

How could this be? It was so close...

His fingernails dug into his palms, his knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists, and his unfocused gaze gradually sharpened. He was determined to take Le'an away, even if it meant giving up his title and future!

Aside from his sister, there was no one else in the Jiang family that he cared about. His sister was a Noble Consort and pregnant, so His Majesty would not punish her. As for the diplomatic relations between the two countries, wasn't there the Fourth Princess to back her up? There wouldn't be any major trouble.

Jiang Se acted quickly enough, but when he arrived at the Prince's Mansion, he found that he couldn't even see Le An. Along with the imperial decree came a governess and a team of guards, ostensibly for protection but actually for surveillance.

Jiang Se gazed at the extra patrol team outside the Prince's mansion from afar, her eyes deep and unfathomable. She suppressed her emotions and warned herself that she must not make any rash moves at this moment lest she alert the enemy, which would only make her elopement more difficult.

Meanwhile, inside the Prince's residence, Que De sat dejectedly, no longer caring about his manners.

After a while, Que Jin looked at Le An, who was behaving too calmly, and said with some concern, "Daughter, if you're upset, just cry it out."

You're making your father afraid!

Le'an remained silent, only lowering her eyelids and letting out a sigh. When she received the message from the Imperial Concubine, Le'an already knew the outcome and was mentally prepared. Now it was just a matter of time before things settled down, and her anxious heart finally died completely.

Just as Que De was thinking about how to comfort Le An, a servant came to report.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince of the Northern Desert has come to request an audience."

What is he doing here?

Que De was somewhat puzzled. The father and daughter exchanged a glance and reacted in unison.

"Welcome him in."

Que De straightened his clothes and adjusted his posture, while Le An got up and went behind the screen.

A moment later, Yelü Moqi entered the main hall, led by his servants.

Que De was not surprised to see Yelü Moqi. He had recognized the prince as the merchant Moqi they had met on their way to Yancheng when he was welcoming the Northern Desert delegation on behalf of the royal family.

Infiltrating Xuan Kingdom so long ago, their ambitions must be considerable...

"Your son-in-law greets your father-in-law." Yelü Moqi performed a junior's greeting.

Que De's lips twitched, feeling as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly, but he couldn't correct him, as the Emperor's bestowal of marriage was already a done deal.

"What brings Prince Yelü here?"

"Propose marriage and offer betrothal gifts." With that, Yelü Moqi took out a red invitation card from his bosom.

Wh...what?

Que De didn't react for a moment. The Northern Desert had already presented its letter of credence, which was considered a marriage proposal. Yongxi, that old bastard, had also issued an imperial decree. The marriage was already arranged. Le'an would leave with the delegation in ten days. What was there to propose marriage for?

"The Chinese have a strict system of marriage customs, and I, as your son-in-law, should follow the local traditions. However, due to the short timeframe, I hope my father-in-law will not find it inappropriate."

As he spoke, Yelü Moqi clapped his hands, and a group of servants filed in, carrying in large and small boxes, filled with a dazzling array of jewels and jade. After putting the items down, they all left the mansion to wait.

Que De looked at the pair of lively geese tied with red ribbons and asked with some surprise, "Can you still shoot geese at this time of year?"

Yelü Moqi laughed and said, "The delegation traveled from south to north, and I personally shot the arrows along the way, keeping them safe all the way to Xuandu."

Que De's icy expression softened considerably, and he said with a complex look, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

But then he thought, this wasn't originally intended for Le'an, so why was he so moved? His expression turned cold again.

"I have accepted the betrothal gifts. Prince Yelü, if you have nothing else to say, you may return."

"I have a presumptuous request."

"what?"

"This son-in-law wishes to see Princess Le'an..."

“That’s incredibly presumptuous,” Que De said, his expression turning unfriendly.

Yelü Moqi hesitated, but his peripheral vision fell on the screen behind Que De, where he vaguely saw a glimpse of an orange-yellow hem. His smile returned.

"It was my rudeness, Father-in-law. You may convey my message."

Que De remained noncommittal, awaiting further developments.

“Princess, you are of noble birth. You must be filled with fear as you marry far away to another country. I have come here to put your mind at ease. You need not worry about the road ahead.”

Que De felt something was off. That's it. The Northern Desert was asking for a princess. If they already had a princess, how could they be so happy to marry a princess from the royal family?

He asked curiously, "After all, Le'an is a princess who has been granted a title. Aren't you angry?"

Yelü Moqi smiled and said, "I am very happy to be able to marry Princess Le'an."

Que De narrowed his eyes. "You're not going to say that you fell in love with Le An at first sight back in Yancheng, are you?"

Meeting Shang Que De's scrutinizing gaze, Yelü Moqi also stopped smiling and said seriously, "I admire Princess Le'an very much. When we were in Yancheng, the disaster victims saw the princess as if they were believers seeing a god, and their eyes shone with hope. At that time, the princess seemed to be walking in the light."

"Your Highness should also know about the plight of the Hua people in the Northern Desert. I have a dream in which the bloodlines of the Di and Hua people in the Northern Desert are intertwined and as close as one family, free from shackles and constraints, and free from racial division."

Que De was somewhat moved upon hearing this.

"Therefore, I need a royal consort who loves the people like her own children, and who has enough wisdom and courage to help me realize my dream."