Zhu Jingyuan considered all aspects of the situation in his mind, and finally reminded Charles again, who seemed to have opened up his mind:
“To choose the daughter of a commoner in the country to be the queen, the premise is that the king is prepared...the key is to be able to decide all matters completely independently.
“Just like Ming Dynasty, there is no longer a competitor or even ally that is so powerful that Ming Dynasty must consider its attitude.
“The various countries on the Western European continent have long faced diplomatic relations surrounded by powerful enemies and competing for hegemony.
“Marriage is a means to strengthen relations between different countries and an important means to build stronger alliances.
"At the same time, it is also a basic means to reduce the intensity of the war and retain the last dignity after defeat.
“If a country is completely independent from such a circle, it will be difficult for it to gain a foothold in an environment like the West.
“Either the entire country collapses and is divided, or a new royal family joins such a circle.
"So...you should not rashly copy Ming Dynasty's experience..."
Charles raised his head subconsciously, and then lowered his head again:
"I...I understand that the Thai and Western countries cannot directly copy Ming Dynasty's experience. Thank you to my dear friend for the reminder.
“The situation in Tessie is too complicated and it has changed again.
"Da Ming has actually been involved in Taixi's affairs.
“France’s future diplomatic relations will definitely be inclined to maintain good relations with Ming Dynasty.
"It should be said... that we hope to become de facto allies.
"But the Ming Dynasty also has no alliance, so I thought of marrying the nobles of the Ming Dynasty.
“But the royal family and nobles of the Ming Dynasty also did not allow foreign marriages.
"I'm very distressed now. I don't know what to do to increase the security of our relationship..."
Zhu Jingyuan took a sip of tea:
"You said...your purpose is actually to have some means to strengthen and guarantee the relationship between France and Ming Dynasty?"
Ciel nodded seriously and said:
"Yes, it can actually strengthen and protect the relationship between us and serve as ballast for the stability of the relationship between the two parties.
"It also serves as a reason and condition for the French royal family and bureaucracy to continue to adhere to this direction in the future."
Zhu Jingyuan thought about it carefully:
"Actually, there is another way... Do you know my brother-in-law?"
As a member of the Thai royal family, Charles already had sufficient understanding of Ming culture.
After becoming close friends with Zhu Jingyuan, I learned more about the language and culture of the Ming Dynasty.
Therefore, there may be many things that ordinary young people in Ming Dynasty don’t know, but he immediately understood them.
Then Ciel's eyes widened suddenly, and he suddenly realized and said a little excitedly:
“Brother-in-law is the relationship between sons-in-law of the same family and men who marry sisters.
“That means I can marry the sister of your best friend’s wife!?
"This...will this destroy the Ming Dynasty's system and tradition?
"Will this pose a threat to the stability of the Ming royal family?"
Zhu Jingyuan nodded slightly and said:
“Of course I can’t say there is no threat at all, but it is already minimal.
“Formal kinship relationships in the Ming Dynasty were customarily based on the father’s line.
“There is no direct relationship between brothers-in-law, but there is the bond that wives are sisters.
"So it can be regarded as a relationship that is both close and distant. The key point is whether the two brothers-in-law are compatible with each other.
“If we get along, we can contact, communicate, and cooperate through channels between wives.
“If they don’t get along, the sisters will gradually become estranged from each other because of their husband’s attitude.
“Both Ming Dynasty and France have male inheritance, and our sons cannot become each other’s heirs through the relationship between their aunts.
“Taking a step back, there is no system in this world that is completely perfect, and there is no absolutely safe option.
“As long as the ratio of risks and benefits is relatively reasonable, it can be considered a feasible solution.
“Besides, I don’t have an official wife yet, I only have a few concubines and a group of maids.
"I can ask someone to find out if any of my concubines have sisters at home and if they are interested in becoming French princesses.
"Of course, this is not officially organized or assigned. Both of you must decide whether to accept it. It is a private private marriage between you and me.
"At the same time, you have to evaluate for yourself whether it is possible for a commoner girl from the Ming Dynasty to become the queen of France.
"The Empress of Ming Dynasty's family members no longer have aristocratic titles, and my concubine's family members must only have civilian status.
After listening to Zhu Jingyuan's explanation, Charles also considered and analyzed the problems very seriously:
“This relationship is indeed a perfect fit, with a bridge of communication and exchange, as well as a personal kinship.
“But there is no inheritance influence, and we can maintain a suitable distance, which is very suitable for our relationship.
"I personally think it's very good. I'm willing to accept this arrangement and have contact with the sisters of your best friend, your concubines.
"It is certainly difficult to let them be called Queens of France, but it is not necessarily impossible.
"According to the thinking of the Thai people, the other party is the sister of your exclusive royal mistress after all.
“It’s already a very important identity.
“Now the whole of Europe and the West is influenced by the cultural traditions of the Ming Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty’s system can be used as a reference.
"I can use the reason that the Ming Emperor only married civilian girls to promote relevant system reforms.
"Our marriage is part of the reform.
"Looking at it from this perspective, it may be easier for me to marry your concubine's sister than to marry an ordinary French civilian girl.
"After all, she is not just a commoner, but a Ming Dynasty person, and she has a close relationship with you.
"I can also try to ask the palace to arrange a French noble status for the other party."
Zhu Jingyuan nodded slowly:
"Then you ask your father what he wants, and I will ask someone to make statistics on the situation."
Charles immediately said with great gratitude:
"Thank you, my best friend. Becoming friends with you is really the best choice I have made in my life."
Zhu Jingyuan smiled:
"It's hard for people like us to have real friends. Accepting your kindness is a pleasant choice."
Zhu Jingyuan chatted with Charles for a while and then asked him to go back and rest first.
His training in Sanqing City these days must have consumed a lot of energy, and he really needs to practice hard.
Otherwise, if you go on a blind date with a depleted image, then what could have been possible may be ruined.
Zhu Jingyuan returned to the palace and asked several of his concubines one by one about the situation in their homes.
In this era, most Ming people still pursue having more children and more happiness.
Among Zhu Jingyuan's concubines, except for the orphan Wang Ya, there are several brothers and sisters.
At the same time, the Ming royal family did not allow the prince to take several sisters as official concubines at the same time. This was obviously a rule to reduce the possibility of sisters grouping together and ostracizing others in the harem.
Since the royal family of the Ming Dynasty has stopped marrying for a long time, the concubines used to stabilize the status of the head wives have directly lost the meaning of their existence.
If you want to be accepted as a sister, you can only serve as a maid, and Ming people can't be maids now.
Several princes are not allowed to marry daughters from the same family as wives or concubines.
Therefore, Zhu Jingyuan's current concubine sisters can no longer become Zhu Jingyuan's women, nor can they become the wives and concubines of Prince Daming. They will have to find someone else.
Although not everyone can accept marrying a Taisi, not everyone is completely opposed to marrying a Taisi, and Charles, a Taisi, has good enough conditions.
The status of the King of France is basically equivalent to that of the Prince of the Ming Dynasty. Although within the scope of ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty selecting marriage partners, the status of foreign origin has to be discounted, but it can still be regarded as the status of the Duke of the Ming Dynasty.
It can still be regarded as the most wealthy family.
The royal concubines also knew something about Zhu Jingyuan's best friend. Apart from the weird attire common to all Thais and Westerners, he was not a bad person.
Mainly because he has a very good relationship with Zhu Jingyuan, and is a rare friend of Zhu Jingyuan, a prince.
The key is to determine the heir to the throne of the largest kingdom in Western Europe.
Several of the royal concubines themselves were not very resistant to having each other become their brother-in-law.
At the very least, they are willing to ask their family and sisters what they want.
But the Chinese New Year is coming soon, and we can’t talk about anything until the 15th.
Charles and Charlotte, the two Thai and Western crown princes or kings, once again experienced the New Year atmosphere of New Tianfu.
After the New Year of Ankang's fifth year, Charles kept him for half a month according to Zhu Jingyuan's instructions, and his energy and complexion basically recovered.
Then, with the help of the Xintianfu royal servants, he changed into a traditional Ming Dynasty scholar's blouse that fit him very well.
I pulled up my hair in the most standard bun, put on a more suitable crown, and took a few photos from various angles.
The telegraph room sent the photos back to the Ming Dynasty via fax to show to the families of Liu Muyun and Yu Muxue.
Li Shuangni's family is in Xintianfu, so he can just look at the normal photos.
Along with the photos, there was also a description of Ciel's situation.
It's like introducing someone to someone.
After several days of deliberation, Li Shuangni's family, who was closest, first refused.
Born in Xintianfu, they had a bad impression of the Thai people.
Although the French are not Portuguese or Spanish, in the eyes of the Ming Dynasty, they are all Thais.
Not only had they just fought at close range, but the image of the Thais they had directly come into contact with was not very good either.
The main reason is that after antiperspirant lotion was not widely promoted, most Thai and Western people smelled bad, especially those who got off the boat.
The families of Liu Muyun and Yu Muxue, who were born in the Ming Dynasty, were willing to meet them.
Mainly because the two of them also wanted to come and meet their sister.
Therefore, Liu Muyun's sister Liu Muyu and Yu Muxue's sister Yu Wanqiu, accompanied by their respective families, came to Xintianfu in mid-February.
Zhu Jingyuan asked Wang Ya to make arrangements for Xia Er and the two of them to see each other.
The process and method of looking at each other was the same as when Zhu Jingyuan met Liu Muyun and Yu Muxue in Dashi Country, they peeked at each other.
However, Charles's mentality was completely different from Zhu Jingyuan's at that time.
Zhu Jingyuan really chose based on his preferences, and Charles was basically chosen purely now.
The princes and concubines of the Ming Dynasty were all selected from thousands of people, and their image as sisters must not be much different.
What's more, people from the Ming Dynasty now have image filters in the eyes of Westerners.
Charles basically took one look and was completely satisfied with Liu Muyu and Yu Wanqiu.
Charles was worried that neither of the two Ming girls would be able to accept him as a Thai.
So Ciel was now more nervous than the two girls.
In the end, Yu Wanqiu was a little hesitant, feeling that Charles was a bit short and not masculine enough.
Liu Muyu thought it was okay, and even thought Charles was a bit cute.
After both parties confirmed their intentions, Zhu Jingyuan hosted a public banquet where the two parties could meet directly.
After direct observation at close range, Yu Wanqiu felt that Charles was not a man enough.
Liu Muyu still felt that she could accept it.
Next, the two parties met and chatted directly under the witness of Zhu Jingyuan, Liu Muyun, and Wang Ya.
Ciel's knowledge level is actually very high, at least higher than that of most middle school students in the Ming Dynasty.
The two talked relatively restrainedly for a while, and Xia Er's efforts were recognized by Liu Muyu and his family.
So far, Xia Er and Liu Muyu's marriage has basically been completed.
Next, it depends on how Charles settles the French royal family and court as well as domestic problems.
Xiaer sent a message directly to his father, explaining Liu Muyu's situation.
It means that he has identified her and is determined to marry Liu Muyu as his wife.
The two parties will first get married in Xintianfu according to the traditional Ming Dynasty process, and then return to France together.
In the period from last year to now, the French royal family and court have been worried.
When Charles finally made the decision and sent back the final news, Louis XVI was so worried that he pulled his hair out.
Louis XVI looked at Charles's telegram, looked at his wife Queen Mary with a particularly complicated expression, and said a little incoherently:
"Char is really not out of anger, he is really considering this marriage seriously.
"The key is that Prince Dashi also directly gave help and support, and the other party was the biological sister of his concubine.
"What should we do now? Did we do something wrong this time?
"When I forced Charles to get married, I never expected that Charles would go to Ming Dynasty to find someone.
"Ciel is willing to get married, which is certainly something to be happy about.
"But the other party is just a civilian, and the key is not a believer in God..."
Queen Mary also looked complicated, but she looked at the problem from a different perspective than Louis XVI:
“But she is the sister of His Royal Highness Prince Dashi’s officially titled concubine, and she may even be the sister of the Imperial Concubine of the Ming Dynasty in the future.
"Although she does not have a direct title of noble, her status is actually higher than that of most nobles.
"If it were before Emperor Renwu of the Ming Dynasty, his father would be titled Earl of the Ming Dynasty in the future, and he might even have the chance to be titled a Marquis or even a Duke.
"However, in order to prevent relatives of the royal family from interfering in royal affairs, the opportunity for relatives of the concubines to become nobles was cut off.
“We can still think of her as the daughter of a Ming Earl.
"And didn't Charles propose a solution? Your Majesty, you can give this lady a French noble title.
“She will be the link between Ciel and His Highness Prince Dashi.
“It is also the link that maintains the relationship between France and the Ming royal family.
"Her role is worthy of a French dukedom.
"It just so happens that the title of Duke of Orleans is now vacant and can be given to her directly.
"In the future, Charles and her eldest son will inherit the throne, and the second son will inherit the title of Duke of Orleans."
Louis XVI asked back with a very hesitant look:
"Duke of Orleans? This is the noble title closest to the royal family. Is this really okay?
"Even if our royal family is willing to do this, can the court officials and other nobles accept it?"
Queen Mary said calmly:
"Leave these problems to Charles himself.
"I think Ciel is capable of solving it now."
Louis XVI imagined Charles now. After being silent for a long time, he finally nodded slightly:
"Okay, let Ciel handle it himself."
