After his words were said, Qi Zhen also treated Su Ziluo as a noble guest, gave him a toast of wine in greetings. Su Ziluo reciprocated, but he only drank tea.
Jing Rong frowned more and more. He leaned toward Ji Yunshu. “You said before that this General Yuchi wasn’t one to waddle in schemes. Seeing that you look at Teacher Su, are you suspecting he might be the puppetmaster?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Then, why are you looking at him so intently?”
“I only feel… that he resembled an old friend of mine.”
“You mean Ji Pei?” Jing Rong put his finger on the truth.
Ji Yunshu looked at him, but she didn’t respond.
Jing Rong pointed at Ji Li and Ji Huan with his chin. “Your brothers also looked at him, but they are more shocked. Whereas you showed nervousness and frustration. There must be an inextricable relationship between your Ji siblings and that Teacher Su. From what I gleaned, shouldn’t that man be the one you have been waiting for – Ji Pei?
“He is not!” Ji Yunshu immediately denied. ‘He is Su Ziluo, not Ji Pei.’ Otherwise, why would he refuse to acknowledge her? Why would he not find her after two years?
Jing Rong was secretly relieved by her words.
Since he asked her, she wasn’t shy to ask about his matter. “Shouldn’t your Highness think about rescuing Miss Kong instead of paying attention to Su Ziluo?”
At the mention of Kong Yu, Jing Rong’s expression turned cold. After a moment of silence, he answered, “She is her own person and she has made her own decision.”
‘Huh?’ It was hard to judge from his words how his conversation with Kong Yu went.
Seeing the pondering expression on her face, Jing Rong leaned closer, and his stern and handsome face showed a hint of slyness. “You really want this Prince to marry her? I’m afraid that I will let you disappointed because the position of Prince Rong’s consort is exclusively yours.”
He strongly hinted that he wouldn’t marry Kong Yu. His words of affection came in suddenly like always.
Ji Yunshu slightly lowered her head, throwing his words to the back of her mind. She seriously asked back, “Then, do you really want to watch her get married off to Qujiang?”
“This Prince said before, she is her own person.”
“She isn’t willing to get married.”
“Perhaps, she is willing.” Jing Rong retorted. His reply left her speechless.
Distracted by Jing Rong, Ji Yunshu leaned closer to converse with him, retracting her gaze from Su Ziluo. Unbeknownst to her, when she stopped looking at him and focused her attention on Jing Rong, Su Ziluo had looked back at her.
Watching how “intimate” Jing Rong and Ji Yunshu were, his expression remained unchanged, but the hands on his armrest were tightly gripping it to the point blue veins appeared, betraying his real state of mind. It was only until Qi Zhen raised his cup of wine for another road of toast that his mind returned. “The king of Qujiang has sought a marriage with our Great Lin. We felt honored for the thought. Thus, the past few days, we have searched for a bride amongst the imperial family and noble clans. Finally, we have sealed her as Princess Huiwen, and she is the chosen one to be married to Qujiang.” He retracted his gaze and gradually put back his hands to his sides.
Yuchi Lin turned toward the emperor and respectfully spoke. “The woman chosen by your Majesty must be a phoenix amongst phoenixes. Our King will send a great dowry and escort her back as befitting her status.”
“The marriage between our countries is an unprecedented matter ever since the war five years ago. The countless casualties at that time still weigh heavily on our mind. I hope there will be no war between Great Lin and Qujiang.”
“Of course, your Majesty. This is also our King’s intention.” Yuchi Lin replied perfunctorily.
Qi Zhen laughed and motioned. “Servants, invite Princess Huiwen to come. She will be heading to Qujiang tomorrow, so today will be her send-off.”
A eunuch bowed down and hurriedly left to bring Princess Huiwen. Seeing that this was a foregone conclusion, Ji Yunshu should let it be since this has nothing to do with her, but she still reminded Jing Rong.
“If you don’t ask for her hand now, it will be too late.”
Jing Rong did not respond nor did he move. The situation truly could be described as the Emperor is not nervous, but the eunuch feels anxious.
Soon, Kong Yu arrived with the court eunuch. She was dressed in a beautiful crimson gown with a long Watteau train embroidered with lotus flowers, and when the breeze rose, the petals fluttered and popped out from her shoulders. Gold and silver hair pins with pearls decorated her head. On her forehead, a small flower was drawn, pink in color, highlighting her sweet temperament. She was like a red rose amongst a bouquet of flowers, dazzling to the eyes.