Chapter 60: Chijin’s Open Declaration of Love

After some deep thought, the old Daoist finally replied to Princess Ning’an,

“Even if there is an antidote, the poison has already penetrated the emperor’s vital organs. It won’t be very effective, but with my elixirs, he could live for another three years.”

Only three years. A trace of sorrow flickered in Li Ning’an’s eyes. Given the current situation, this was the best possible outcome.

Li Ning’an mulled over how to arrange matters and asked the Daoist, “What’s the latest we could retrieve the ingredients?”

The Second Prince of Northern Yue was coming to the capital, and she definitely needed to be there for that.

“By early summer next year, but the sooner, the better,” the Daoist responded. The emperor’s condition couldn’t afford any delays.

Li Ning’an nodded, and both she and the Daoist stepped outside. The Duchess of Ding, wisely, did not inquire further.

By the end of December, the Northern Yue delegation arrived in the capital. After much consideration, Emperor Mingde decided to send Ning’an and his fourth son, Li Ningzhi, to welcome them.

After all, it would be disrespectful to send only ministers to greet the prince.

Riding on horseback, Li Ning’an and her younger brother saw the Northern Yue delegation approaching, with iron cavalry guarding the flanks. On the outermost sides rode the elite soldiers of Northern Yue, led by Tong Linian, Ling Jibai, and a Northern Yue general. Behind them was the first carriage, inside which sat Yan Ziqi and Chijin.

Following them was another carriage, tightly covered, guarded as heavily as the Northern Yue Second Prince himself. After that came carriages loaded with treasures and beautiful women.

The carriages stopped at the city gate, with Li Ning’an, Li Ningzhi, and officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple awaiting. Wen Di, the youngest legitimate son of the Grand Preceptor, also joined the reception, hoping to catch some attention.

He glanced up at Princess Ning’an sitting on her horse and then at himself, standing among the officials, feeling somewhat overshadowed.

Ling Jibai, seeing that Tong Linian wasn’t speaking or dismounting, called out to the first carriage, “Young Master Yan, Prince Chijin, we’ve arrived.”

Yan Ziqi pulled back the curtain, the first thing he saw being Princess Ning’an, dressed in a fitted blue-green gown with narrow sleeves, exuding a heroic air.

His eyes lingered on her as he held the curtain open for Chijin, but his mouth said, “This is the capital. Over there is Princess Ning’an. Chijin, let’s go greet her together.”

Chijin clapped Yan Ziqi on the shoulder with brotherly affection, stepping out of the carriage alongside him.

Just as Ling Jibai was about to dismount, Tong Linian had already urged his horse forward to Li Ningzhi’s side.

“The emperor sent you to greet us, but why her?” Tong Linian said, his eyes lingering on Li Ning’an, noticing how she had grown even more beautiful. He couldn’t help but recall the letter she had written to Yan Ziqi and sneered inwardly. To him, she was just a foolish princess obsessed with men.

Before Li Ning’an could respond to Tong Linian’s comment, her attention was drawn to Yan Ziqi stepping out of the carriage. To her surprise, he wasn’t as dark as she had imagined. Despite the harsh winds of the northwest, his face seemed untouched, appearing even fairer and more refined.

He looked more mature now, with a subtle air of deadly seriousness cloaked in nobility.

As Tong Linian’s words finally registered, Li Ning’an saw that her fourth brother had fallen silent, seeming as if he too felt slighted. She then remarked, “Is this how the Tong family educates their children? Criticizing a royal princess, and one with a title no less.”

She turned to her brother and added, “Fourth brother, do you think he’s disregarding us, or perhaps even father? Speaking such divisive words in front of Northern Yue’s delegation, I’m beginning to question the Tong family’s loyalty to both our father and the empire.”

Li Ningzhi, already displeased at being tasked with greeting the Northern Yue prince on his father’s behalf, now had his sister involved as well. His cousin’s words had left him silent, but his sister’s accusations felt too serious.

“No, no,” he quickly corrected. “The Tong family has been defending the borders for years and hasn’t returned to the capital in a long time. It’s only natural he’s excited to be back and eager to see old friends.”

Li Ningzhi shot a look at his cousin, warning him not to go too far.

Only after Tong Linian dismounted did Li Ning’an urge her horse toward Northern Yue’s carriages. She fixed her gaze on Yan Ziqi and said, “Yan Lang, you’ve really made this princess wait.”

Chijin, observing the interaction between Princess Ning’an and Yan Ziqi, couldn’t help but smirk. It seemed these two were quite a match. So, this boy had a connection with the princess.

Yan Ziqi, resisting the urge to roll his eyes, invited Chijin to dismount.

As Chijin and Li Ning’an dismounted together, Li Ningzhi urged his horse forward and followed his sister’s lead, dismounting to help receive Prince Chijin.

“The Princess of Da Qi is truly both noble and beautiful,” Chijin remarked as he looked up and down, clearly impressed with Princess Ning’an. Having inquired about Da Qi, he knew that this princess was Emperor Mingde’s favorite. If he could marry her, Da Qi would likely provide a lavish dowry.

Chijin extended his right hand to his left chest and gave a respectful bow. “If I could marry Princess Ning’an and take her to Northern Yue, it would be my honor.”

The officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple exchanged glances, bewildered. What was going on? Had Prince Chijin already taken a liking to Princess Ning’an? There was no way the emperor would permit her to be married off to Northern Yue.

Tong Linian, however, saw this as a convenient solution for Ning Yi’s concerns. He hadn’t expected Chijin to be so direct and was somewhat pleased by it.

Li Ning’an glanced at Chijin disdainfully. “Didn’t you see how much I favor Yan Lang? Who do you think you are, to compare yourself with him? Even the bears in the royal hunting grounds are more pleasing than you.”

She stepped aside in disgust. The Northern Yue general was taken aback by Da Qi’s blatant disrespect toward their prince, especially the way she compared him to a bear. He looked at the second prince and then at Yan Ziqi. To be honest, if he had to choose, he’d also pick Yan Ziqi over the prince. But he quickly reminded himself that as a Northern Yue general, loyalty to the second prince was paramount.

The general spoke up with a scowl, “Is this how Da Qi treats guests from afar? Comparing our prince to a bear is truly an insult.”

With a fearsome sword at his waist, the general appeared fierce and intimidating. However, Li Ning’an remained unfazed. “Your prince was quite forward. He meets me and immediately proposes marriage. Does he think this princess is so easily wed?”

As Emperor Mingde’s most favored daughter, Li Ning’an always enjoyed the best of everything. For Chijin to expect her to agree to marriage after a single sentence was presumptuous indeed. He hadn’t even met Emperor Mingde yet, and it seemed like he was already trying to assert dominance by claiming her.

Li Ning’an may have seemed a bit sharp, but she upheld Da Qi’s dignity. Chijin laughed heartily. “You’re right. I should meet Emperor Mingde first.”

It seemed Chijin was genuinely interested in marrying Ning’an, as he extended his hand once more, inviting her to lead the way. Throughout the exchange, he paid no attention to the fourth prince, Li Ningzhi, likely because no one had bothered to introduce him. All eyes were on Princess Ning’an.

Tong Linian, standing beside the fourth prince, whispered to him, inquiring about the situation in the capital.

Chijin had his horse brought over and intended to ride alongside Princess Ning’an. However, once Li Ning’an mounted her horse, she found herself irritated by Chijin’s close proximity. She regretted not sending Ning Yi in her place. Then again, even if Chijin had met Ning Yi first, Ning’an’s beauty would have likely changed his mind.

Suddenly, Li Ning’an exclaimed, “Ah!” and tossed her riding whip toward Yan Ziqi, who instinctively caught it.

“Yan Lang, I’m feeling a bit tired. I can’t hold this anymore, and I can’t continue riding. You take me,” she said.

Yan Ziqi, who certainly didn’t want the prince of Northern Yue to actually marry Li Ning’an, mounted her horse and wrapped his arms around her. Nestled comfortably in his embrace, Li Ning’an said, “Let’s go. First, we’ll escort Prince Chijin to the Honglu Guesthouse.”

The officials from the Honglu Temple breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Princess Ning’an still remembered to take the prince to the guesthouse rather than directly to the palace. After their long journey, the Northern Yue delegation would certainly need to freshen up, change clothes, and prepare to meet the emperor.

At this moment, Chijin commented, “Princess Ning’an, doesn’t Da Qi have a saying about men and women maintaining a respectful distance?

Is it proper to be riding on the same horse with Young Master Yan like this, right here on the street?”