Chapter 27: As Clingy as a Young Couple

As Li Ning’an had said, there were indeed some who proposed sending Young Master Yan to the border.

But this idea was quickly overshadowed.

A man who had never been on the battlefield and lived a life of indulgence—who would dare entrust him with a military campaign?

Naturally, not many people agreed with this proposal.

Until Emperor Mingde grew impatient with the arguments, no one could come up with a concrete plan.

The Tong family had always been responsible for commanding troops and waging wars; all decisions seemed to come from the capital.

If you can’t handle it, then don’t attempt it.

Since nothing could be decided today, the discussion would continue in tomorrow’s morning court.

Naturally, several court officials, including Grand Tutor Wen, were kept behind.

They would meet with the Emperor in the Cabinet to discuss how to handle the situation.

If Northern Yue managed to send General Tong’s finger as a trophy, they would completely lose their reputation and face.

Yan Su also took the opportunity to listen to the news coming from Qian Kun Palace as the Emperor headed to the Cabinet.

The two princesses seemed to still be at odds.

The two had stood there all morning, well past lunchtime. Both were eager to be the first to show filial respect to their father.

A eunuch, unable to dissuade them, sent word to Eunuch Yan.

But by then, the morning court had not yet ended, and Yan Su couldn’t go and listen himself.

Once he found out, he arranged for his adopted son to persuade the two princesses to at least find a place to sit and wait.

Qian Kun Palace wasn’t lacking in door gods or stone lions.

Li Ning’an hadn’t expected her Fourth Sister to persist so long.

It was only at the 福喜 (Fu Xi) that the two princesses reluctantly gave Yan Su some face and waited in the side hall of Qian Kun Palace.

(“Fuxi” is the pinyin transliteration of the name 福喜, which can be translated as “Happiness and Prosperity” or “Fortune and Joy.”)

(In a historical or formal context, especially when referring to a specific person like a palace servant or official, it is usually appropriate to retain the name as “Fuxi” to preserve the proper reference.)

They were determined to wait for their father.

The first to offer their care.

Fu Xi also instructed people to prepare meals for the two princesses, ensuring they wouldn’t be left hungry.

Li Ning’an and Li Ningyi dined at the same table. Though they ate in silence, each kept an eye on the other, wondering what schemes might be afoot.

Li Ningyi wanted to find out if her uncle could still return alive and whether her cousin had made any mistakes that might implicate them.

Li Ning’an was curious whether Yan Ziqi could go to the border and what suggestions Fu Minglang had made.

Yan Su, seizing the opportunity, whispered a few words to the Emperor to prevent the two princesses from waiting in Qian Kun Palace for a whole day.

In the afternoon, when Emperor Mingde returned to Qian Kun Palace, he received two expressions of filial piety.

He praised them and rewarded them with some jewelry and fabric, then sent them on their way.

He truly had no mood to indulge in childlike behavior.

Some of these ministers had grown complacent.

“Yan Su, summon Young Master Yan to the palace.”

After Li Ning’an left, she kept a close watch on Qian Kun Palace’s movements, hoping that Yan Ziqi would enter the palace, and clasped her hands in prayer, hoping for divine protection.

She hoped he would go to the border and make achievements.

Fu Minglang had already reached the position of Deputy Minister of the Household. Yan Ziqi could only rely on the Duke of Xiang to pass on his title.

How could she avenge her past life?

There was also the future doctor who would come to treat her father; Li Ning’an still had no leads on finding someone.

If her father’s poison had not yet taken effect, mentioning preventive measures might be seen as cursing him.

The Fourth Sister wanted to compete for favor, and Consort Tong still wanted to be the Empress.

Li Ning’an had her own scale of priorities.

Speaking of which, Consort Tong had a Fifth Prince; why not have him compete with Li Ning’an?

Such matters were just childish games among girls.

If the Fifth Prince were to come forward, it would be disrespectful to the elder sister.

A slight flaw would make the throne unstable.

Li Ning’an was unaware of the internal news of Qian Kun Palace, but Yan Ziqi entered calmly, greeting Emperor Mingde, who was reviewing memorials at his desk.

“Your Majesty has summoned me. What is the matter?”

His tone was casual, neither fearful nor flattering, as if chatting with an older relative.

After Yan Ziqi performed his bow, he sat down at the Emperor’s gesture.

Emperor Mingde looked at Yan Ziqi, who was about to turn twenty and soon reach the age of adulthood.

“You’re not young anymore. Do you have a favored lady? Today, I will arrange a marriage for you.”

Yan Ziqi looked surprised. He was already aware of General Tong’s capture.

He had thought the Emperor might summon him to the border.

Even if it were just to be a firewood carrier in the military.

He wouldn’t actually set the kitchen on fire.

“I haven’t found anyone I like. However, Your Majesty’s good daughter, Princess Ning’an, is still staying in the outer residence and won’t leave at all.”

Yan Ziqi looked at the Emperor with a hopeful expression and said, “Could you perhaps let her go?”

Emperor Mingde, recalling Ning’an, couldn’t help but feel a headache. Since the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, the child seemed to have developed some sort of peculiar affliction.

“If you have no one in mind, I can have the Empress choose someone for you. Her taste is always excellent.”

Yan Ziqi nodded. Anyone capable of raising a daughter as unruly as Li Ning’an was indeed remarkable.

He cupped his hands and said, “Then I will trouble the Empress.”

Yan Ziqi didn’t stay long. As he left Qian Kun Palace, he spotted Li Ning’an in a sky-blue robe with a pearl phoenix hairpin.

She was indeed relentless.

Li Ning’an hurried over and walked beside him toward the palace gates.

She asked softly, “What did Father say?”

Yan Ziqi replied, “Why don’t you ask the Emperor yourself?”

Li Ning’an pouted, “If Father were willing to tell me, would I need to stake out here waiting for you?”

The two walked at a leisurely pace, occasionally stopping to greet passing palace servants. The servants waited until the Princess and the Young Master had passed before standing up, and from afar, the two indeed seemed like a good match.

Yan Ziqi hadn’t expected her to ever be so dejected. Although the Emperor favored her, he wasn’t a foolish ruler.

A few words from her couldn’t possibly convince him to send Yan Ziqi to the border.

Yan Ziqi replied, “The Emperor wants to arrange a marriage for me. He asked the Empress to select someone.”

Li Ning’an’s voice suddenly became sharp, “I am your concubine!!!”

“A concubine is still a concubine, not necessarily precluding the marriage of a main wife.”

Moreover, it seemed she was the only one taking this matter seriously in the whole capital.

Li Ning’an didn’t care, “You are only allowed to have me. If there’s anyone else, I will make trouble.”

Li Ning’an then touched her own face, “Is this Princess not beautiful? Not slender? Lacking talent?”

Her skin was flawless.

Her figure was graceful and delicate.

Though she found studying at the Imperial Academy difficult, she was quite intelligent.

She had never ranked last in exams.

Once, when there was a mix-up with the exam papers, she still answered several questions correctly.

Only a few people knew about this, including him.

Yan Ziqi spoke as if coaxing a young wife, “Yes, yes, you are the most beautiful in the world. No one can compare to you.”

“If you had been born a few decades earlier, you would have taken Wen Taishi’s position. He wouldn’t have had any chance.”

“Even the fish and the wild geese, the moon and the flowers, would envy you. Heavenly fairies would be jealous and have to descend to earth.”

Li Ning’an, flattered by such praise, showed no modesty and nodded in agreement.

“So, you can only have me.”

Not just the Empress Mother, but even the Emperor’s marriage arrangement would be futile.

If he dared to marry someone else, she would use a noose to strangle Yan Ziqi.

It would be bad to strangle the bride or herself.

Li Ning’an asked again, “Did Father really not say anything else?”

Yan Ziqi shook his head, “Marriage is a major matter.”

He was actually grateful to Li Ning’an for asking; it would be known to others as soon as he left the palace what the Emperor had discussed with him.

Li Ning’an believed Yan Ziqi wasn’t lying and, upon reaching the palace gates, decided not to leave.

Under the watchful eyes of the Imperial Guards, she hugged Yan Ziqi around the waist.

“Oh, we’re at the gate already, and you still don’t want to part with me. You must give me a hug.”

“Alright, I’ve hugged you. The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and I need to stay in the palace to accompany Mother. You should go back first.”

“Wait for the Mid-Autumn Festival… who knows if we will see each other then.”

Yan Ziqi hadn’t reacted yet, and she was already far away.

The Imperial Guards: …

Princess Ning’an really did move on!

They had insider information.

Absolutely reliable!

Yan Ziqi could still smell the fragrance of the incense from Li Ning’an.

Indeed, it was a long way off.

Even with Ling Jibai’s wedding, he couldn’t personally extend his congratulations.

The road to the border was long, with the northwest winds and sand, and the battlefield was merciless.

When they meet again, who knows in which year that will be.

Northern Yue had become a tough nut to crack.