Ximen Zhanying hesitated for a moment, then took a few steps forward, knelt down on one knee facing Longtai, raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty, Zhan Ying was lucky enough to win. Your Majesty, please think twice about the marriage."
With a smile on his lips, Longtai asked: "Ximen Zhanying, I have a promise beforehand. If you lose, I will immediately issue an order to marry you to the prince of Qi. Now that you have won, I will naturally keep my promise. Do you want to It's up to you to decide whether to marry in Qi State." He raised his hand and pointed at Duan Shao and asked, "Then will you go to Qi State?"
Ximen Zhanying said: "Reporting to the Holy Lord, if I cannot abide by the oath Zhan Ying made back then, I will be breaking my promise."
Long Tai nodded slightly, but Duan Shao already smiled and cupped his hands to Long Tai: "My lord, since Miss Ximen has won, Duan Shao can't force others to do anything difficult."
"Duan Shao, since you asked me for a marriage, I naturally have to consider the alliance between the two countries." Long Tai asked: "Besides Ximen Zhanying, are there any other candidates?"
Duan Shao said respectfully: "Duan Shaoshang has not thought about anyone else."
"I've thought about it for you." Longtai said: "The royal family doesn't have a princess who can go to Qi, so I thought about it and selected a good match for you from the family of the hereditary marquis." After a quick glance, his eyes fell on Su Zhen. , said: "Su Aiqing!"
Su Zhen hurriedly stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "I'm here!"
"As far as I know, you have a daughter under your knees, who is at the age of becoming a minister." Longtai looked solemn: "I want to marry her to the prince of Qi. Do you have any opinion?"
Su Zhen was startled, and even the other ministers were also stunned.
Su Zhen was startled for a moment, but immediately knelt down and said respectfully: "The marriage granted by the Holy Emperor is the honor of my Su family in Wuxiang. The Emperor's grace is so great that no minister dares to disobey it!"
Long Tai nodded slightly and said to Duan Shao: "Duan Shao, the daughter of the Marquis of Wuxiang is of noble birth and has noble character. She is also at the age when she leaves the cabinet. But what do you think?"
Duan Shao was also a little surprised, but Qi Ning had already said: "Your Highness, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Wuxiang has a beautiful appearance, a gentle temperament, and is well-educated. She is really a good girl picked from a thousand. Your Highness asked the emperor to grant a marriage for this reason. The alliance between the two countries will last forever, and having Miss Su become the Crown Princess of Qi will definitely make the two countries have good relations from generation to generation."
Ximen Zhanying was afraid of marrying to Qi, but Su Zhen had other thoughts.
Among the four hereditary princes of the empire, the Sima family is now at its peak. Although the people of Jindao Tantai keep a low profile, the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty know the strength of Jindao Tantai. Even the Jinyi Qi family, although they passed away in Qijing There was a possibility of decline in the future, but Qining suddenly emerged and won the emperor's respect. He even presided over the reconstruction of the Black Scale Camp. Although it was not far behind the glory of the Qi family in its heyday, the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty No one dares to underestimate the Qi family.
Only the Su family has been in decline since the death of the old Marquis of Wuxiang.
The old Marquis was also a famous general in the Chu State back then, and he naturally had a number of strong soldiers under his command. Unfortunately, Su Zhen had no talent. He only knew how to live in debauchery, and was unable to maintain the original power of the Su family. However, the power under the command of the old Marquis of Wuxiang was , was gradually dissolved by other forces.
The Su family now only suffers from the lingering shadow of their ancestors, relying on their fiefdom to live a wealthy life, and their strength in the court is minimal.
Su Zhen knew this very well. When the two old princes got married, Su Zhen originally expected to rely on the Qi family to maintain his position in the court, but Qi Jing's death made him feel like a fool. It was impossible for the Jinyi Crown Prince to take on the important task of maintaining the Jinyi Qi family. After all, he fell quickly. Because of this, he broke off the marriage between the two families extremely resolutely.
For him, relying on Su Zixuan's marriage to gain greater strength is an important means for the Su family in Wuxiang to continue to exist.
Longtai suddenly wanted to marry Su Zixuan to the crown prince of Dong Qi. Su Zhen was not only surprised, but also overjoyed.
Duan Shao had already told Longtai that once he married from Chu and returned to Qi, he would immediately make her the crown princess. In other words, she would be the queen of Dong Qi in the future.
For the Su family, which is in decline, this is undoubtedly a good thing that they can only hope for.
Once this marriage is successful, the Su family will become an important link between Qi and Chu, and the status of the Su family in Chu will naturally rise.
At this moment, he was afraid that Duan Xuan would not agree. When he saw what Qi Ning said next to him, although he heard a hint of ridicule, he felt that Qi Ning's kind words at this time were not a bad thing.
Duan Shaoshang did not agree, but Long Tai had already smiled and said: "If the monarch of Qi knew about this marriage, he would definitely approve of it, right?"
Duan Shao pondered for a moment, then turned around, faced Long Tai, cupped his hands and said: "Duan Shao thanked the Lord for the marriage!"
Longtai smiled and said: "That's very good." He said loudly: "It is my will to give the daughter of the Marquis of Wuxiang to the prince of Qi as his wife, so as to form an alliance between the two countries for generations!"
Su Zhen showed excitement and knelt on the ground: "I thank the emperor for your kindness!"
"Marquis of Wuxiang, after my wedding, the prince of Qi will return to Qi." Longtai said solemnly: "There is still time, you should prepare for this immediately." He also wrote to Yuan Laoshang of the Ministry of Rites: "Old Minister Yuan , although time is short, the Marquis of Wuxiang marrying his daughter to Qi is also a major event for Qi and Chu, and your Ministry of Rites must also prepare quickly."
Su Zixuan married far away to the Eastern Qi Dynasty, so naturally she could not marry the emperor on the same day. Old Minister Yuan bowed and said: "I obey the order!"
Ximen Zhanying had been kneeling on one knee not far in front of Longtai, and then he said: "Your Majesty, Zhanying retires!"
"Wait a minute." Qi Ning suddenly called out: "Your Majesty, Miss Ximen is very good at martial arts. I am feeling anxious for a while, so I just take this opportunity to ask Miss Ximen for some advice and ask for your permission."
The ministers never expected that Qin Ning would suddenly come out like this, and they were even more surprised. The ministers looked at each other, even Ximen Wuhen seemed a little surprised.
Ximen Zhanying was already preparing to retreat, but when he heard Qi Ning's words, he was startled for a moment, then he understood something, his cheeks turned red, he lowered his head and bit his lip.
Longtai knew it all, and it was funny in his heart. No one else knew what happened today, but Longtai knew that Qi Ning must have arranged it.
At this time, Qi Ning suddenly proposed to compete with Ximen Zhanying. He naturally understood what the purpose was. Before, he had planned to marry Ximen Zhanying to Qi Ning. At this time, he deliberately cooperated with Qi Ning in acting. He smiled in perfect agreement and said: " Jin Yihou, do you want to compete with Ximen Zhanying in martial arts?"
"That's right." Qi Ning said loudly: "Actually, when I went to Xichuan not long ago, I saw that Miss Ximen's martial arts was not bad, so I told Miss Ximen that I would find an opportunity to spar with her. I just have the opportunity today, so I sincerely ask the emperor for permission. .”
Longtai said "Oh" and asked Ximen Zhanying: "Ximen Zhanying, Jin Yihou said that he has an appointment with you, is this happening?"
Ximen Zhanying was thinking about when I made an appointment with you to compete in martial arts, but how could he say it was not the case at this time? He gritted his teeth and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Jin Yihou... Jin Yihou did say that."
"Jin Yihou, when you made the agreement with Ximen Zhanying, did you know the oath Ximen Zhanying made." Longtai pretended to be serious and said: "If you compete in martial arts and you beat her, you will have to marry her."
"Your Majesty...!" Ximen Zhanying felt his cheeks were burning: "Also... it's not always like this...!"
"Oh, yes, I remember there are two conditions." Long Tai said with a smile: "In addition to being better than you in martial arts, I also need to be admired by you." He pointed at Qining and said: "Ximen Zhanying, I ask you , do you like Jin Yihou?"
All the ministers found it incredible. No one expected that things would develop like this.
Ximen Zhanying was a little worried, thinking to herself that even if Qining really wanted to marry him, he shouldn't do it in front of so many ministers. It was really embarrassing. It was hard to answer at this time, so he just lowered his head.
Duan Shao also had a look of astonishment on the side, and then he frowned, with a strange look in his eyes.
"Qining, I ask you, now that you are going to compete with Ximen Zhanying, have you ever thought about marrying her?" Longtai is young, but he looks mature and serious.
But suddenly I heard a person next to me laugh and say: "Your Majesty, Jin Yi Hou wants to compete with Miss Ximen. Maybe he just wants to compete with Miss Ximen, but he doesn't necessarily want to marry Miss Ximen. Otherwise, we cannot let anyone who defeats Miss Ximen marry her. As my wife." Everyone looked over, but the one who spoke was the King of Huainan who had never said a word.
Qi Ning smiled and said: "Your Majesty, in fact, I have reached the age of marriage. The Emperor is about to get married, and the Crown Prince of Qi is also going to marry Miss Su, so... So if Miss Ximen really likes me, I..." On purpose! He smiled shyly and said nothing.
The king of Huainan laughed twice and said no more.
Longtai asked Ximen Wuhen: "Ximen Aiqing, you heard what Jin Yihou said, what do you think?"
Ximen Wuhen cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to your Majesty, I promised my daughter back then that as long as the person she likes is better than her in martial arts, I will not stand in my way. Moreover, Jin Yihou is young and promising, with both civil and military skills, as long as my daughter is willing. , I am naturally happy to see it succeed."
"It seems everything still depends on what Ximen Zhanying wants." Longtai smiled and said: "Ximen Zhanying, Jinyihou wants to marry you, and your father has no objection. If you are willing, you can compete with Jinyihou now. One time. If Jin Yihou is defeated by you, this marriage will naturally be abandoned. If he really defeats you, I will issue a decree to grant the marriage immediately. Are you willing?"
Ximen Zhanying didn't dare to raise her head at this time. She only felt that countless pairs of eyes around her seemed to be staring at her. Her pretty face was as red as a flame. She bit her lip and said vaguely: "He... he wants to Let’s spar and compete, I...I’m not afraid of him, if I want to fight...if I want to fight, I’ll fight...!"
Longtai saw this in his eyes and felt even more amused in his heart, but he still said seriously: "Jin Yihou, Ximen Zhanying accepts your martial arts challenge. I want to see how good your skills are. If you can let me grant you a marriage, just It’s up to you.”
Qi Ning strode towards Ximen Zhanying. He looked at the shy lady with red makeup and thought to himself that if I want to marry you, all the ministers in the court will see it with their own eyes. He stopped three steps away and said with a smile: "Ximen Girl, please be merciful later, but don’t attack too harshly.”
Ximen Zhanying looked up and saw Qi Ning looking at him with a smile. That evil smile made Ximen Zhanying's heart move. He bit his lip and said: "If you don't have the ability, don't fight. I won't fight you." I will show mercy."
"By the way, you just had a fight, do you want to take a break?" Qining said with a smile, "I don't take advantage of others."
Ximen Zhanying thought to himself that you had not taken advantage of me enough. He swung his sword and said, "I don't need to rest when I fight you." With one step, he already slashed at Qining with his sword.