Fang Zilan knew that Li Qianning was telling the truth. The marriage decree had been made and they were already in Miluo. At this moment, they were in the same boat.
If the wedding ceremony fails, Li Qianning will not be able to care about her. She is a troubled beauty in the eyes of the world, and she is afraid that she will never be able to return to the capital.
However, no matter what they thought, they could not stop the soldiers of Dajing from going south. Soon the troops overwhelmed Lincheng, and the battle or peace was about to be decided.
Zhuge Yu was the only one who entered Lin City. Under the watchful eyes of the Miluo people, he kept his sword and ax at bay without retreating. He walked step by step in front of Mu Chuji who was waiting to greet him in Lin City.
"Your Majesty, Dajing, has an edict." Zhuge Yu held the imperial edict in his hand, raised it high above his head, and said in a calm and authoritative manner: "Sister of the Empress of Dajing, Zilan, the third lady of the Fang family, has both talent and beauty, virtue, elegance and uprightness. I am now marrying her to Miluo. Murong Qing, the son of Prince Guozhongzheng, hopes that the two countries will have good relations from generation to generation.
An imperial edict granting marriage was read by him like a declaration of war. Coupled with the 100,000 troops outside Lin City behind him, they were all oppressive.
But Mu Chuji curled his lips, ordered his men to retreat, and invited Zhuge Yu, who came alone, into the capital of Miluo, as if he didn't care about the heavy troops in the capital.
"His Royal Highness, King Qi, your Majesty asked me to return to the capital with Crown Prince Zhongzheng and his wife after the wedding ceremony." Zhuge Yu explained the purpose of his visit in an understated manner on the road, and Mu Chuji nodded, "After the wedding of the King and the Queen, One day, it will be the wedding ceremony of Prince Zhongzheng and his wife. Since Lord Zhuge is here, he should have a glass of wedding wine."
Zhuge Yu did not respond. Seeing that the palace was approaching, he changed his voice and said, "His Royal Highness, King Qi, does not seem to be surprised."
"Accident?" The smile on Mu Chuji's face grew wider, "The wedding of the Lord of Miluo Kingdom and the Queen is supposed to be a great event in the world. No matter who comes to watch the ceremony, I will not be surprised."
"Really?" Zhuge Yu said meaningfully: "I thought the Lord of Miluo Kingdom had already prepared it, and His Highness King Qi had done it intentionally."
The smile on Mu Chuji's face froze for a moment, and he pretended not to understand: "What do you mean, Master Zhuge?"
"King Zhongzheng doesn't know, maybe I believe it." Zhuge Yu said, looking at Murong Xun who was strolling not far away, his voice became a little deeper, "But if His Highness King Qi says he doesn't know, it would be a bit..."
"Lord Zhuge." A voice interrupted Zhuge Yu. He looked back and saw Li Qiyou coming in a hurry. Before he could stand in front of him, he asked, "Your Majesty has really issued an order to ask Miss Fang San. Marry Prince Zhongzheng?"
"Seriously." Zhuge Yu calmed down his expression, and Mu Churui smiled playfully, then ignored the two people and turned around to meet Murong Xun.
"Your Majesty, why..." Li Qiyou frowned, but Zhuge Yu stopped him, "Your Highness, we are in Miluo now, what do you want to say..."
"Master Zhuge is well." Fang Zilan bowed and stepped in at the right time, "I am really flattered that Master Zhuge has worked so hard to come to announce the decree in person."
Zhuge Yu returned the gesture, said a few words, and then whispered: "Miss Fang San, please take a step to speak."
Fang Zilan counted the time. It was still some time before leaving the palace banquet, so she walked out with Zhuge Yu. When there was no one around, she said, "If Master Zhuge has anything to say, you might as well say it directly."
"There are Miluo armored soldiers all the way from Dajing to Lincheng." Zhuge Yu got straight to the point, and Fang Zilan was stunned. "Master Zhuge means that the Miluo people want to use the wedding between the two countries. When Dajing relaxes..."
Zhuge Yu raised his hand and made a silent gesture. Fang Zilan felt relieved and did not say any more, but her expression became a little colder.
"Miluo is so ambitious that Princess Dejia will not be easy in the future. You..." Zhuge Yu paused, with a look of concern in his eyes, "You must be extremely careful after marrying into Prince Zhongzheng's palace."
"Master Zhuge, you know who I am." Fang Zilan lowered her eyes and said, "Even if she marries into Prince Zhongzheng's palace, Fang Zilan will still be Fang Zilan, and her body and mind will never be trapped within the wall."
"But..." Zhuge Yu opened his mouth and sighed softly, "This is a marriage after all. Whether it is involuntary or with ulterior motives, you can no longer break away from it."
Fang Zilan curved her lips, but her smile was a little bitter, "Master Zhuge, are you feeling sorry for me?"
"I don't know." Zhuge Yu clenched his hands hidden in his sleeves into fists, "But, I'm sorry."
He finally said these three words. It was not as difficult as he imagined, but after saying it, he didn't feel relieved at all. Instead, it seemed like there was an extra layer of shackles, weighing him down and making him breathless.
"I'm sorry, Master Zhuge. I accept it." Fang Zilan looked at the person in front of him steadily, his lips pressed tightly, and the struggle and sorrow in his eyes were clearly revealed.
"But Ayu..." Fang Zilan paused as soon as he started speaking. After a while, he said quietly: "As Ayu, Sister Lan doesn't want to hear him say these three words."
Just because once Zhuge Yu said he was sorry, all the friendship between them - the bloody battle in the north, the strategizing in the west, and the persistence in the southeast would all disappear.
"Zhuge Yu is now the person in charge of the Zhuge family." Zhuge Yu was cruel and said in a cold voice: "I ask Miss Fang San not to mention the word Ayu in the future."
"Okay." Fang Zilan responded without hesitation: "I was the one who was abrupt."
After saying this, she bowed solemnly, and then left without looking back, as if all the feelings between her and Zhuge Yu were left where they were with him.
Li Shengxuan personally issued an imperial decree conferring marriage. Fang Zilan was not unaware of what Zhuge Yu and even the Zhuge family behind him would do.
She also knew very well that the overall situation was current, and since the arrow was on the string and had to be fired, the Zhuge family would definitely add fuel to the flames for the sake of the capital.
But it wasn't until Zhuge Yu said sorry to her that she suddenly realized that she could sacrifice her wealth, life or half of her marriage for the so-called overall situation, but she was not willing to do so.
Unwilling to accept it, he was dismissed.
Everyone seemed reluctant, but in fact they were all eager to see her marry into Prince Zhongzheng's palace and become the puppet-like wife of the Crown Prince, allowing others to dress her up like a doll that had lost its soul.
Only in this way will she not be Fang Zilan. It can’t be Miss Fang San, it can’t be Duke Xianyue, it can’t be Zi Xiu, and it can’t be the daughter of the former Zhenbei General, King Pingnan, and Mrs. Qin Ji...
Thinking of this, Fang Zilan's eyes became frighteningly cold, but her steps kept moving.
It turns out that this is what they want, Ji Ningtian, Li Shengxuan...the people she once fought for with all her life, the people she once talked about family, country and the world with, now, for the sake of peace of mind, she can't be demoted anymore. , until the high courtyard of the deep house, never come out.
