FBC – Chapter 280 The Princess for the Alliance Marriage

“Your Majesty, the Lady has sent you—”

The palace attendant rushed in, but froze midway upon suddenly seeing Mu Junyan standing beside the Emperor.

The Emperor frowned. “Xuanxuan?”

The attendant cautiously offered Zhao Luoxuan’s secret letter with both hands. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor took it impatiently, untied the ribbon, unfolded it—and his brows instantly relaxed, joy lighting his face. “Truly, she is my good daughter! Minister Mu, look.”

Mu Junyan accepted the letter and scanned it. His expression shifted slightly. “Is the Lady truly willing?”

“This is Xuanxuan’s handwritten letter. When she insisted on going to Southern Jiang, her empress mother worried for her and quietly prepared an urgent secret line—an eight-hundred-li express. Should she face trouble or wish to return, she could use that line to send word back to the capital. The letter bears her personal seal. No one knows of this.”

The letter stated that aside from Gu Hua, she was the most suitable for an alliance marriage.

It was also the only thing she could do to fulfill Qi Jun’s wish.

As the Emperor spoke, his eyes reddened. “I never thought… that in the end, the most sensible one would be Xuanxuan.”

Zhao Luoxuan had solved his problem, preventing Mu Junyan from spiraling out of control and threatening his imperial authority.

After all, it was he who had allowed Jiang Ruoxi and Wang Heng to go to Southern Jiang.

…

Duan Yu stared at the girl inside the room. She wore a cloak and hat, her face obscured—his expression unreadable.

“Sixth Princess, I have met you before and know your story. You came to Southern Jiang because of your deep love for Qi Jun, to守節—remain faithful to him after death. And now you say you wish to marry me in Lady Gu’s place? I question your sincerity. Give me a reason.”

Zhao Luoxuan lifted her hat, revealing a delicate face carefully made up. She bowed with proper elegance.

“Because I pity a pair of newborn children.”

Duan Yu hadn’t expected that answer.

Zhao Luoxuan raised her eyes. “I’ve heard that when the Great King was young, he and his mother lived through very difficult times. Surely you understand the pain of being separated from one’s mother at a young age. Sister Hua has just given birth to twins—she cannot allow the Mu family bloodline to fall into the hands of Dali. And she would never willingly leave her children.”

Duan Yu’s expression shifted slightly.

He smirked faintly. “But I only marry women I like.”

Zhao Luoxuan smiled. “The Great King can like many women. What you need is a legitimate consort who strengthens your position—not a marriage that reignites war. If you insist on marrying Sister Hua, even if my imperial father agreed, neither the Mu family nor I would accept it. If you want war, we will accompany you to the end!”

Her straight posture and proud spirit made Duan Yu look at her anew.

He couldn’t help but give her a thumbs-up. “I didn’t expect the Zhao Luoxuan of rumors to have such courage.”

Zhao Luoxuan seemed encouraged, her voice firmer. “Great King, you know clearly: an alliance marriage is the only long-term solution. If you cannot wed a proper Princess of Great Liang, then your princesses also cannot marry over. And I am in no way inferior to Sister Hua.”

“You should also know I have skilled craftsmen under me, and I can help build trade routes between Dali and Great Liang.”

Duan Yu nodded. “The Princess speaks rightly—that is indeed attractive to this King.”

Zhao Luoxuan had been nervous pretending to be calm. When she heard the softening in his tone, she finally felt some relief and pressed forward.

“The Great King seeks a consort who can assist you. Then we can act as affectionate spouses in public. But in private—however many women you like, I will not interfere. Only—if the woman is Sister Hua, absolutely not!”

Duan Yu couldn’t hold back a laugh. “You protect Gu Hua quite fiercely. To think you’d even give up Qi Jun for her sake.”

Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes instantly reddened. “No.”

“If I am to help the Great King, naturally I have a condition.”

Duan Yu raised a brow. “Speak.”

“I wish to bring my husband’s memorial tablet when I marry. And I ask permission to set up a mourning hall in my residence, so I may offer worship.”

Duan Yu drawled lazily, “You certainly dare to ask.”

“Mutual benefit requires mutual conditions.”

Zhao Luoxuan met his gaze without the slightest fear.

Duan Yu smiled. “You are very different from when you first came to Juzhou.”

Zhao Luoxuan blinked. “The Great King has met me before?”

“Of course.”

Duan Yu leaned forward slightly, face approaching hers. “Do you believe my true target was actually you?”

Zhao Luoxuan froze.

Then Duan Yu straightened, laughing heartily. “The consort I marry must be willing. Using Gu Hua to force you to volunteer—how convenient.”

Zhao Luoxuan stood stunned.

Duan Yu’s smile faded, and he looked at her seriously.

“Gu Hua is a woman I admire, a woman I owe a debt to. But among all the women in Great Liang, the only one suitable to be my consort is you. You are a legitimate princess. Your status matches mine. But if you are unwilling, I do not want you.”

Zhao Luoxuan suddenly felt completely played.

Her pretty face flushed with anger.

Duan Yu’s tone shifted. “Of course, if you refuse—then it can only be Gu Hua. If war comes, this King is unafraid.”

Zhao Luoxuan felt as if she were being led by the nose—and could not even get angry about it. She had to follow along with his arrangements.

It was infuriating!

…

Mid-Autumn Festival approached.

Gu Hua finally saw Chi Yan again after he had vanished for a long time.

His face was unshaven, travel-worn. Seeing her, he cupped his fists excitedly. “Madam.”

Gu Hua saw his reddened eyes and asked, just as excited, “It’s done?”

“Yes—it’s done. The imperial decree will arrive tomorrow. And Bianjing… has already begun fighting.”

Gu Hua clutched her chest. “He won’t be in danger, right?”

Moments later she corrected herself, firmly, “He’ll be fine. He will return. He knows his wife and children wait for him.”

The next day—

The imperial decree everyone anxiously awaited arrived.

Jiang Ruoxi ordered her nanny to listen outside—she needed to know what decree His Majesty issued, and on which day the alliance marriage was set.

Wang Heng, Gu Hua, Zhao Luoxuan, and the Old Madam all waited in the prefecture office.

The eunuch delivering the decree looked utterly exhausted—clearly he had traveled without rest.

His voice was hoarse. “Sixth Princess, receive the decree.”

Gu Hua froze and immediately looked at Zhao Luoxuan.

Her title as princess… had been restored?

Zhao Luoxuan didn’t dare look at Gu Hua. She stepped forward and knelt. “Your subject receives the decree.”

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims:

My ambition is peace throughout the realm, harmony among all nations. The tranquility of the borders concerns the well-being of all people. To secure lasting diplomatic ties, responding to Dali’s request for an alliance marriage, We agree to form a bond as strong as Qin and Jin, to end strife and establish the foundation of peace.

My beloved daughter, Princess Shuhe, is gentle and virtuous, dignified and elegant, knowledgeable and benevolent, talented and beautiful, praised far and wide—a model among women. I now decree Princess Shuhe to marry in alliance, to unite our nations in kinship, to transform weapons into silk and jade. May the Princess and the King of Dali respect one another as guests, live in harmony, and promote the prosperity of both nations.

Let it be known to all.”

Gu Hua was stunned.

Wang Heng kept his head lowered in silence.

When he wrote his eight-hundred-li urgent report, Zhao Luoxuan had come to him asking whether he intended to help Jiang Ruoxi. He told her very clearly—he wanted to kill Jiang Ruoxi.

Thus, in the urgent report, he left subtle hints implying another candidate.

And at the same time, Zhao Luoxuan’s urgent report was sent.

That wretched Jiang Ruoxi would not be allowed to ruin the reputation the Wang family of Langya had built for generations.

The eunuch smiled. “Congratulations, Princess. Within twenty days, the full ceremonial escort and dowry will arrive. You will be married with great honor.”

Zhao Luoxuan’s face remained calm as she accepted the decree. “Your subject accepts the decree.”

After receiving it, she turned, facing the shocked Gu Hua.

She smiled faintly. “Sister Hua… I finally managed to help you once.”

Gu Hua’s eyes reddened. She stepped forward and gripped her hand. “You didn’t have to. If you were unwilling, no one could force us.”

Even if the decree demanded it, it would have been impossible.

Mu Junyan would never agree.

Gu Hua felt no urgency—but she had never imagined that Zhao Luoxuan would take her place.

“I was willing. I personally wrote the memorial requesting it and sent it to Bianjing. I didn’t tell Sister beforehand because I feared if it didn’t succeed, I would have no face to see you. I feared you would think me useless.”

“You—!” Tears welled in Gu Hua’s eyes.

Zhao Luoxuan smiled through her tears. “Sister Hua… I am useful, right?”

“You…”

Zhao Luoxuan suddenly leaned close and whispered into her ear, “Do not worry. Qi Jun will accompany me.”

Gu Hua finally couldn’t hold back—her tears spilled instantly.

Zhao Luoxuan had grown up.

…

“What?! Zhao Luoxuan’s princess title was restored? And she’s replacing Gu Hua in the marriage alliance?”

Jiang Ruoxi jumped up in fury.

Her nanny, eyes red, looked at her anxiously. “Miss…”

What was she going to do now?

Zhao Luoxuan was a legitimate princess—no matter what, she was a far more proper candidate than Jiang Ruoxi.

Jiang Ruoxi paced the room angrily, her gaze dark. “I don’t care who it is. We act according to plan! Once Zhao Luoxuan is dead—we’ll see whether Duan Yu still wants me!”