C18 Another Rival in Love

I followed the palace maid to the side hall. Sister-in-law entered the palace first and was already waiting there.

When I entered the room, I saw Sister-in-law and walked towards her.

Sister-in-law also saw me and before I got close, she raised her hand to call me over.

After sitting down, I looked around the room at the dozen or so women, and then asked sister-in-law, "Are all the women attending the banquet here?"

"There are also people in the east side hall, all of them are already married." Sister-in-law replied to me.

"When I went to attend the palace banquet, I didn't see anyone dividing into two groups?" I asked again.

"There are more people this time, so we waited separately."

That's right. This time around at the palace banquet, Third Prince and Sixteenth Princess from Southern Chu also came to participate. In order to strengthen the situation, the Emperor will naturally invite more officials than in previous years.

"But sister-in-law, you are the princess of our Great Liang. Why are you arranged to wait here?" I asked.

Sister-in-law smiled and replied, "I am the princess, but now I am your big brother's wife. Your big brother is a rank four official. Therefore, I can only be arranged according to my status as a rank four general's wife. "

Hearing this, I couldn't help but feel happy and said, "That's true. Jingyi is a rank five official, and my treatment fell from a rank one duke's daughter to a rank five general's wife."

Although our statuses have declined, my sister-in-law and I are both happy in our hearts because we have married the right person. Even if we have a noble status, we don't necessarily have a happy life.

I am not very familiar with the others, so I only chatted with sister-in-law for a while. Not long after, it was time for the banquet.

After we left the side hall, we met up with Jingyi and big brother and headed to the Ronghuang Hall together.

Our identities are the most ordinary, so we were the first to enter the hall.

The granny and my parents were both people with status, so not only could they wait in the hall later, but they were also arranged to sit in the first row.

Jingyi and I are in the second row behind Grandma. The ones sitting beside me are big brother and sister-in-law. Taking advantage of the fact that the Emperor and the Empress are not in the seat, I chat with sister-in-law again.

After a while, the important officials of the court were invited into the main hall. Among them is the Grand Missus and my parents.

After they all entered the seats, they suddenly heard the Palace's people loudly announcing, "Third Prince of Southern Chu has arrived! sixteenth princess of Southern Chu is here!"

Everyone looked at the door of the hall at the same time. They saw a man and a woman. A dozen followers followed behind them and appeared in front of everyone.

The man was tall and straight, and he had a handsome appearance. He wore a blue brocade robe and a purple gold crown on his head. At first glance, he was very eye-catching.

The woman's figure was slim, and she had a gorgeous appearance. She wore a red brocade robe, and her hair was emerald-green. With her appearance and attire, she instantly overwhelmed all the women in the hall.

They were Third Prince and Sixteenth Princess who had just been informed by the palace people.

Under the guidance of the Palace Master, they also entered their seats.

Seeing the two of them, I couldn't help but praise. "They are really pretty." I admit that I am infatuated again, and not only with men, but also with men. I'm completely captivated by her.

"Cough, cough, cough..." I followed the sound and looked at Jingyi, only to see that he was looking at me discontentedly.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked in confusion.

He lightly bit the corner of his lips and then asked me: "That Third Prince is very pretty, right?"

"It's not just him, Sixteenth Princess is also very pretty, just like Tianxian." As soon as I finished speaking, I realized that I misunderstood. Jingyi's expression and his question just now should be... jealous, right?

Without waiting for me to explain, Jingyi said to me in a cold voice, " Have you forgotten your identity?"

I quickly explained in a low voice, "Hubby, you misunderstood. I only admired him..."

Before I could finish explaining, Jingyi interrupted. "That won't do either!"

"Hubby, aren't you... a little too overbearing?" I carefully said while observing his reaction.

He did not say anything and turned his head, finishing the wine on the table in front of him.

Seeing him like this, I instantly felt very sad.

I couldn't help but blame myself in my heart. He is my husband. So what if he is overbearing to me? Why should I? I deserve to die for making him angry over such a small matter!

I was just about to apologize to him, but he beat me to it and said, "I am overbearing. Since you married me, you have to accept it, and you have to accept it for the rest of your life."

I couldn't help but smile. I nodded and replied, "Okay, I accept."

I was still arguing with him a moment ago, but now I am so obedient. My attitude confused Jingyi. He looked at me with confusion. He didn't understand what was going on.

I don't explain. In my heart, I picked up the teacup in front of me and savored it slowly. This fool, don't you know that he loves me and I love him?

You pampered me so much and protected me. Of course, for you, I will restrain my temper and change my personality.

You have done something, so how can I not repay you?

"The Emperor has arrived! Empress has arrived! Lady Imperial Noble Consort has arrived!"

The person outside the door called out and saw the Emperor bringing his concubines to the entrance of the main hall.

Everyone got up and knelt beside their table, kowtowing and shouting: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Empress is a thousand years old, a thousand years old, a thousand years old! Imperial Noble Consort is a thousand years old!"

The Emperor brought the concubines to the main seat and then waved his hand and said," Rise! "

After everyone got up, the Emperor gave another order and everyone returned to their seats.

After everyone sat down, the Emperor raised the wine cup on the table and said, "Today is mid-autumn and being able to spend the festivities with all the beloved ministers is indeed a joyous matter. There are even princes and princesses from Southern Chu who enter the Palace to have fun with everyone. Zhen is very happy. Here, this Emperor and all the beloved ministers raise the wine cup together and wish me great honor. The people are rich and the country is strong. Our descendants will be able to enjoy eternal happiness!"

Everyone raised their cups and said in unison, "I wish Great Liang that the people are rich and the country is strong. I wish my children and grandchildren for ten thousand generations. I wish them eternal happiness and happiness!"

After the first cup of wine, the Emperor toasts a cup of wine to Third Prince and Sixteenth Princess in Southern Chu. Although there was a great war between the two countries previously, at this time, they have already spoken about peace. Since they came to be guests, the Emperor naturally has to do his best to be the host.

They first exchanged a few words, then Third Prince from the Southern Chu said the purpose of his visit. "Emperor, I represent the Southern Chu to come to the Great Liang this time because I have something important to say."

"What is it?" The Emperor asked.

Third Prince replied, "The war between the Great Liang and Southern Chu caused both sides to suffer heavy losses. Regarding this, I, Royal Father, am deeply saddened and at the same time regret it. In order to ensure that our two countries can coexist peacefully in the future, in addition to the ceasefire agreement, I, Royal Father, hope to marry your country."

"Back then, when Jingyi and I returned to the sect, we discussed this matter with my father and big brother. We thought that they might have come here to find out the truth and take the opportunity to take revenge. We also guessed that Seventh Prince of Southern Chu was behind all of this and wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of Third Prince in the Great Liang. However, we never thought that they would suddenly propose a marriage alliance.

"Marriage alliance?" The Emperor looked at Sixteenth Princess who was beside Third Prince and continued, "You mean to marry your country's Sixteenth Princess to our Great Liang?"

Third Prince smiled and replied, "Not only that, I will also choose a woman in Great Liang and marry her back to Southern Chu."

If this Third Prince only wants to marry his royal sister, we can suspect that he only wants to plant spies in Southern Chu, but he also wants to marry a woman back to Southern Chu, then the sincerity of their marriage is much more reliable.

The Emperor looked at Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince beside the Crown Prince, then smiled and replied to Third Prince in Southern Chu. "Of course it is good. Zhen is the one who is not married. There are also two sons and a daughter, just enough to fulfill the marriage between the two countries."

Hearing this, Sixteenth Princess of Southern Chu got up and walked to the front of the hall. She bowed slightly and said, "Emperor, the princes of your country all have outstanding talents. But in my heart, there is already a husband candidate. I hope that the Emperor can fulfill my wish!"

The Emperor was a little surprised and then asked with a smile, "Oh? Tell me, which family's young master actually compared Zhen's child?"

Sixteenth Princess respectfully replied, "I dare not say that he beat the two princes. He only got in contact with me before this and made me fall in love with him. That's why I have the thought of marrying him as my wife."

This Sixteenth Princess is quite smart. She knows how to flatter the Emperor before discussing her own thoughts.

Although in reality there are many people who are more outstanding than the princes, the Emperor is definitely not willing to accept such words. Sixteenth Princess deliberately speaks like this. It can be seen that she sincerely wishes to protect this person whom she admires.

In this way, I am also starting to be curious who is the person that she has taken a liking to.

The Emperor is clearly very curious and directly ask, "Speak, who is the person that you like?"

"The person I want to marry is the Great Liang General - Han Jingyi!" As she spoke, Sixteenth Princess looked towards Jingyi.

When I heard her words, my heart skipped a beat. What followed was a wave of sourness.

I turned to look at Jingyi and saw him frowning as he tightly held the wine cup in his hand. I was really worried that he would be impulsive and directly reject her. I was also afraid that he would eventually agree to the Emperor and marry this Sixteenth Princess .

Hearing that the person Sixteenth Princess wants to marry is Jingyi, the Emperor's expression is ugly. I do not understand why he would feel that it is difficult but seeing him like this, I was relieved.

The Emperor did not immediately state his attitude but turned to look at my father-in-law and asked, "Old General Han, Southern Chu wants to marry my Great Liang and this Sixteenth Princess is interested in your son. What do you think about this marriage?"

The eunuch crossed his hands and raised them in front of him. He replied, "Reporting to the Emperor, Princess of Southern Chu wants to marry into my Han family. It is our Han family's honor. It is just that my son has already become a relative. If Sixteenth Princess were to marry again, it would be our Han family's honor. I can only be a concubine and I have really wronged her. So this old official asks Sixteenth Princess to carefully consider before making a decision."

The Emperor nods his head slightly and then looks at Sixteenth Princess and asks, "Han Jingyi has already become a relative. As the princess of Southern Chu, it is really inappropriate for you to be his concubine. This also makes me unable to explain to your Southern Chu, so you should consider this matter again."

Sixteenth Princess 's face was cold, clearly pleased in her heart, but she was very stubborn and immediately replied, "Emperor, I have already considered it. Even if I become a concubine, I am willing to marry him."

Hearing this, the Southern Chu's Third Prince unhappily called out to her, "Sixteen!"

"Imperial Brother, I have made up my mind." Sixteenth Princess 's attitude surprised Third Prince from Southern Chu.

Right at this moment, Jingyi suddenly stood up and walked to the center of the hall. After bowing, he said, "Emperor, this lowly subject has something to say to Princess of Southern Chu."

"Yes!" The Emperor slightly raised his hand and accepted Jingyi's request.

Jingyi turned to look at Sixteenth Princess and said bluntly, "You insist on marrying me for the sake of the friendship between the two countries. I cannot refuse but there are some things that I think I should explain to you beforehand."

Sixteenth Princess looked at Jingyi with admiration and said gently, "General Han, please tell me."

From her previous attitude and current expression and tone, I can confirm that she really liked Jingyi. Although Jingyi didn't have any feelings for her, it really made me eat a lot of sour taste.

"Then I'll tell you." Jingyi's face was cold. Then he continued, "My wife and I love each other very much. They both swore that they would be loyal to each other for the rest of their lives. If you force yourself to marry me, not only will you be a concubine, but also a concubine. All I got was this humble title, To put it bluntly, if you marry me, In the next half of your life, you can only live as a widow in my residence. "