PNB Chapter 229 Pulling out teeth from the tiger’s mouth
Chapter 229 Pulling out teeth from the tiger’s mouth
Jiang Chao and Jiang Mu respected their second grandmother and were afraid that some princess would interfere and hinder their relationship.
"His Majesty is concerned about my illness and specially arranged for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to bring me into the city. Such a grand gesture is enough to show my position in His Majesty's heart. It is only natural that the Northern Qi envoy investigates me."
Zhao Yi glanced coldly at Jiang Chao: "You know I'm married, a princess sent by Northern Qi for a marriage alliance. She represents the entire Northern Qi, how could she lower herself to become a concubine?"
Jiang Chao almost said: What if the Northern Qi forces you to divorce your wife and remarry?
Just as he was about to utter those words, a sudden thought flashed through his mind, and he realized something.
The reason why the Northern Qi came to negotiate was because they had been repeatedly defeated by the Prince of Zhenbei.
For them to make this request is like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.
“The Northern Qi arranged for a princess to marry me, but the fact that I am the emperor’s favorite nephew is not enough to make them marry their princess to me… They are after greater interests.”
Zhao Yi curled his lips slightly: "If what you say is true, and they are plotting to marry the princess to me, then the fall of their country is not far off."
Jiang Chao was instantly enlightened by Zhao Yi. The purpose of the Northern Qi envoys to the Great Zhou was to negotiate. The officials who came were all shrewd people from the Northern Qi and would never do anything to damage the face of the Northern Qi.
He scratched his head: "Do you know who they've set their sights on?"
"Cough...cough..."
Zhao Yi covered her mouth with her handkerchief and coughed a few times. She did not answer Jiang Chao's question, but instead turned her gaze to the painting of a hundred portraits of a palace banquet hanging on the wall.
This painting, "Portraits of a Hundred Officials at a Palace Banquet," was created by Emperor Jing'an. It depicts the officials against the backdrop of a year-end palace banquet.
Zhao Yi put himself in the position of the Northern Qi envoy to try to figure out their purpose, and soon understood why Northern Qi was investigating him.
He was not only Emperor Jing'an's most beloved nephew, but also the son-in-law of the Prince of Zhenbei.
Northern Qi feared the prestige of the Prince of Zhenbei. As long as the Great Zhou had this fierce general, Northern Qi would be unable to defeat the Great Zhou.
Zhao Yi's eyes were icy cold; the Northern Qi's target was the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.
Many years ago, he read a historical record about a brave and skilled general who, in order to gain the emperor's favor, killed the wife of an enemy state and became a general to lead troops to attack the enemy state, achieving great military exploits, but was not given the emperor's favor.
If the Northern Qi were to marry the princess to the son of the Prince of Zhenbei, and if the Great Zhou were to wage war against the Northern Qi again in the future, the imperial family, taking into account this important position, would certainly not dare to give the Prince of Zhenbei an important position again.
Even if they kill the princess to demonstrate their loyalty, the trust between the ruler and his subjects will eventually be shattered.
Military generals who lost the trust of emperors throughout history met tragic ends.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yi walked to his desk, preparing to write a letter to the Prince of Zhenbei.
Suddenly, Zhao Yi changed his mind and decided to go to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion in person to discuss the matter with the Zhenbei Prince.
"Second Master, where are you going?" Jiang Chao hurriedly caught up: "You're still sick."
"Prepare the carriage." Zhao Yi choked on a mouthful of air, coughing even more violently. "To the Prince of Zhenbei's residence."
Jiang Chao was so anxious when he heard Zhao Yi coughing so hard that he paced around frantically, clumsily patting Zhao Yi's back to help him catch his breath.
Jiang Chao was worried that Zhao Yi's condition would worsen, so he suggested, "Second Master, why don't I go to the Prince of Zhenbei's residence and invite the Prince over?"
Zhao Yi recovered, her voice slightly hoarse: "It's alright, go prepare the car."
Jiang Chao noticed that Zhao Yi looked grave, as if something big was about to happen.
He dared not disobey Zhao Yi and immediately went to harness the carriage.
When Zhao Yi arrived at the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, the gatekeeper recognized him as the mansion's son-in-law and respectfully invited him to sit down in the front hall.
The maids in the mansion were very clever; without being specifically instructed, they split into two groups.
They went to inform the Princess of Zhenbei.
They went to inform the Prince of Zhenbei.
The maidservant hurried to the training ground and happened to see the Prince of Zhenbei and several gentlemen from the manor coming down from the training ground. She quickly stepped forward to report.
"Your Highness, the son-in-law has arrived."
"What?" Shen Lue wiped the sweat from his face with his outer garment, his eyes widening. "My sister is here?"
Shen Du and Shen Zhuo glanced at him, then turned and went back to their courtyards to take a bath.
The maid replied, "Only the young master came."
Although Shen Lue was disappointed, he was more worried about Shen Qingtan, so he didn't rush to take a bath and hurried to the front hall to see Zhao Yi.
The Prince of Zhenbei had also considered this issue; otherwise, Shen Qingtan would have come to the Prince's residence with Zhao Yi. With that thought in mind, he hurried to the front hall.
As soon as the father and son entered the front hall, they saw Princess Zhenbei and Zhao Yi sitting there talking, both looking relaxed.
Princess Zhenbei looked at the father and son with gentle eyes, judging from their demeanor that they had rushed over, probably because they were worried about Manman.
The Prince of Zhenbei strode over and sat down next to his wife.
Princess Zhenbei poured him a cup of tea.
The Prince of Zhenbei looked down at the fingers holding the teacup saucer, which were as white and lustrous as the delicate white glazed teacup.
The moment he reached out to take it, he paused, gripping the rim of the cup with his five fingers and lifting it up without touching her slender fingers.
Princess Zhenbei noticed his movements, put down the teacup holder, stuffed the handkerchief from her sleeve into his hand, and ran her fingertips across his palm.
The Prince of Zhenbei held a soft, cloud-like handkerchief in his hand, turned his head to look at the Princess of Zhenbei, and saw that she had a smile on her extremely beautiful face: "Wipe your sweat."
Instead of wiping his sweat, he stuffed the handkerchief into his pocket and looked at Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi rose and bowed to the Prince of Zhenbei: "Father-in-law, your son-in-law has come today to discuss an important matter with you."
The Prince of Zhenbei raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice, "What about Manman?"
“No.” Zhao Yi got straight to the point: “The envoy from Northern Qi brought a princess, intending to form a marriage alliance with Great Zhou.”
The Prince of Zhenbei was not a brave but reckless general; he quickly understood the meaning behind Zhao Yi's words.
His face darkened: "Northern Qi wants to form a marriage alliance with the Prince's Mansion?"
The Prince of Zhenbei thought of his sons, all of whom were bachelors and all of marriageable age.
If the Northern Qi goes to great lengths to secure the marriage alliance and Emperor Jing'an agrees, then the matter will become complicated.
Just then, the gatekeeper rushed in and reported: "Your Highness, the Emperor requests your presence in the palace."