Forced to Marry the Enemy Prince - Forced to Marry the Enemy Prince - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Xian Sheng thought that he heard wrong.

Although he traveled by carriage in the Liang Palace, that was because the Liang Emperor was his father. He pitied his weak body. However, this was very baffling in the Jin Country.

Zhan Lue mentioned this probably because he liked him. However, Xian Sheng found it incredulous that the Jin Emperor would agree.

The empress found it incredulous as well. Meanwhile, Zhan Lue accepted this result. He said calmly, “Many thanks to the emperor father.”

Xian Sheng hurriedly stood up to thank him as well.

The empress tilted her head and ordered, “Go and bring the Crown Prince’s carriage to the door. The Crown Princess needs to meet the empress dowager later on.”

Xian Sheng didn’t dare say anything. He felt as though the empress looked at him in faint anger. He sat back down, feeling a bit ill at ease. He was the Crown Princess of the Jin Country right now. He’d inevitably have to pay respect and greet the empress in the future, just like how daughter-in-laws and mother-in-laws would treat each other. If he offended the empress, he wouldn’t have a good life in the future.

Zhan Lue added, “Troubling empress mother.”

Xian Sheng slightly knitted his brows and tilted his head to look at Zhan Lue. The latter’s gaze met his, his gaze dark and gloomy. Xian Sheng couldn’t help but avoid his gaze.

Whenever Zhan Lue looked at him, it seemed like his gaze was glued to him and even acted as though it was supposed to be this way. He didn’t seem to know what bashful mean.

The Crown Prince’s carriage quickly arrived at the palace door. Xian Sheng and Zhan Lue bid farewell and left. The empress looked down, her tone respectful but it was hard to hide her faint anger. “Your Majesty, why did you agree to Zhan Lu’e absurd request?”

The Jin Emperor watched Xian Sheng leave and didn’t think that his change of action was wrong in any way. However, he still explained, “She’s the princess of the Liang Country after all. She is spoiled and pampered. Now that she came to the Jin Country, if we are overly severe with her, it’d make the Jin Country seem like it lacked magnanimity.”

When the emperor of Jin saw Xian Sheng go out, he didn’t feel bad about his sudden backwardness, but he explained: “She is the eldest princess in the State of Liang. Now she is in the state of Jin. If she is treated too harshly, it seems that I have no grace in Jin.”

Xin Meichen sneered in his heart and said, “Your Majesty thinks that it’s worth changing the prince’s ten cities for beauties?”

Jin Emperor jaw head, said: “My son a skill, can fight down once, can fight down the second time, this river and mountain easy to change, beauty is rare, it is not unreasonable.”

“Aren’t you scared that this princess will enchant the Crown Prince into ruining the country?”

“That woman is innocent.” The Jin Emperor patted her hand and said, “How could the princess possibly ruin the country? Empress, you’re being too serious.”

You’re the one with power. Empress Xin shut her mouth.

The Jin Emperor just wanted to see his daughter-in-law today. Now that he had taken a glance, he quickly left. Mama Qiu walked over and comforted, “His Majesty allowed her to travel by carriage in the palace because he was just empathizing with the Crown Prince. The princess is quite weak. Plus, they just got married and she was tormented last night. If she gets sick, wouldn’t the Crown Prince feel bad?”

“He keeps on saying that Zhan Lue is absurd, but he’s the most absurd one!” Empress Xin, calming her mood. Then she asked questioningly, “She fainted during the ceremony yesterday. But even so, Zhan Lue really consummated with her?”

“There’s blood on the cloth. It must be real…Plus, you know His Highness’ attitude. If he doesn’t like the woman, even if you force it upon him, he won’t accept her either. But if he does like her, he’d have her no matter what.”

That’s true. Empress Xin laughed. “This boy can never stay away from what he wants. Go and attend to this matter. After he gets over her, find someone better for him.”

“Yes.”

With the Jin Emperor’s approval, Xian Sheng got in the carriage and they went to the empress dowager’s palace. She was over fifty. Although she took good care of herself, it was clear that she grew old. She didn’t make things difficult for Xian Sheng. Before he paid a formal visit, she allowed him to sit down. Even more, she considerately said, “You must be tired heading all the way here. Are you used to living in the North?”

“Imperial grandmother, thank you for your concerns. Although it is a bit colder here, it’s fine as long as I don’t leave the house.”

“The weatherman said that it’s going to snow these two days. You have to take good care of yourself.”

“Many thanks to imperial grandmother’s concern.”

The empress dowager smiled and said to the girl by her side, “Go and pour a glass of ginger tea for the Crown Princess. Let her warm her body.”

The girl retreated before quickly returning. When she was close, Xian Sheng detected her gaze on him. He looked up and the girl smiled at him. Xian Sheng returned a smile as well.

The girl retreated and said in a soft voice, “Everyone says that the princess of the Liang Country was beautiful and glamorous. It seems like the truth.”

Xian Sheng didn’t know what to say. The empress dowager patted the girl’s hand and teased, “The Crown Prince doesn’t like those ordinary girls from the start. It seems like it’s harder for these people to catch your interest.”

The girl secretly looked at Zhan Lue and the latter said, “Imperial grandmother, you’re teasing me. This granddaughter just hasn’t met anyone she is interested in before. It’s not because this granddaughter looks down upon them.”

“It’s fine. You usually have your own idea. As long as you like them.”

Xian Sheng silently picked up the teacup and took a sip to be polite. Then, he lightly placed it down. When he was called on, he casually replied. Zhan Lue responded straightforwardly. However, he didn’t respond passionately nor indifferently. Xian Sheng guessed that he didn’t talk to the empress dowager that often.

After paying respect to this elder, Xian Sheng got up to eat. The lunch was prepared for the juniors, so that Xian Sheng could see his sisters and brothers. The banquet was set at Xile Pavilion.

When they left, the empress said, “Take Qing Rong with you. She hasn’t eaten breakfast yet either.”

Xian Sheng just realized that this girl was Princess Qing Rong, the empress dowager’s real granddaughter. Because her parents had died when she was young, she had been under the empress dowager’s wings.

Zhan Lue didn’t reject this.

Qing Rong slightly jogged over and followed behind obediently. Her gaze landed on Xian Sheng’s hand and then she quietly shifted her gaze.

Xian Sheng walked downstairs before his body was swept into Zhan Lue’s arms again. He looked at him in annoyance. Zhan Lue didn’t seem to feel the gaze, directly placing him in the carriage. He said, “Sit still.”

Xian Sheng quickly ducked in.

He could clearly step on the pedal, so why must Zhan Lue grope him? Wasn’t he angry at him?

Xian Sheng held the hand warmer and sat on the soft cushion, his feelings complicated.

Outside, Qing Rong was shocked. She had been in the palace the entire time, so she didn’t know that the horse carriage was driven to the palace door. When had anyone in the palace put on this ostentation?

However, she didn’t ask about it. She walked alongside Zhan Lue and said softly, “I also went to see Your Highness’ wedding ceremony yesterday. It was quite lively and bustling.”

“Yes.”

“I heard that there is a new restaurant in the capital and the dishes there are amazing. Your Highness, when you have time, why not take the Crown Princess out to taste it? Call Zhan Yin and Zhan Jin as well. As well as the peach blossom wine we brewed a while ago. We should all have some drinks.”

The North was open-minded. Women were allowed to reveal their faces in public, ride horses, and partake in hunts. It was normal for them to have a picnic. While listening to this, Xian Sheng was a bit jealous.

He had a weak body. As a child, he could count the number of times he left the palace. Even so, he always got into an accident whenever he left. When he returned, he was bound to be sick.

He listened to Zhan Lue faintly say, “She’s weak. Wait until the day gets warmer.”

Qing Rong suggested, “Why don’t we go try it out first?”

Zhan Lue didn’t say anything. Qing Rong smiled and said, “Your Highness is now married. It seems like you don’t want to be away from your wife now” in a teasing tone.

However, Zhan Lue replied, “Yes.”

There was no way to probe the man. Xian Sheng couldn’t help but pull the curtains to the side to look. Zhan Lue immediately looked over. His indifferent eyes became gloomy and dark right then. He stared fixated at him.

Xian Sheng was speechless.

His hands shook before he placed the curtains down.

In the Xile Pavilion, everyone was a bit impatient from waiting. The first piece of news that the people heard was that Crown Prince Zhan Lue had carried the Crown Princess to the empress’ palace in the royal palace. The moment the news came out, Zhan Yin was furious. “What?!”

The little eunuch quickly repeated the words. Zhan Yin wore a tense face. “She dared to let royal brother carry her to empress mother to serve tea?!”

She was Zhan Lue’s younger sister and the eldest daughter of the royal family. Her status was naturally different from the other princes and princesses. She was arrogant and proud, mad that her elder brother was treated like a slave.

In the Xile Pavilion, the other princes and princesses chatted lowly. They all thought that this Liang Princess was a bit excessive. There were other curious ones. “I wonder just how beautiful she is for our proud and arrogant Crown Prince to act humble and lowly.”

“What’s low voice?” Zhan Yin spat: “it must be she who gave her brother some soup. How dare she treat him as a porter in the grand Jin palace?”

On her side, Zhan Jin gently tugged at her and said, “After all, she’s just married. She’s not well. If she can’t walk, it’s hard for her brother to leave her.”

Zhan Yin seemed to have a pretty good relationship with her. She sat down, but couldn’t help but say, “That enchantress dares to bully our royal brother? Watch how I’m going to torture her later!”

Zhan Jin knitted her brows, “Be careful. You’re going to anger royal brother.”

“As long as he can’t tell.”

She hadn’t thought of a way to torture the “little enchantress” when the people they sent out came back with more news. “They went to the empress dowager’s palace. What was strange this time was that they traveled by carriage.”

Shock filled the pavilion again. “She traveled by carriage in the Jin Palace?”

“Yep.” The little eunuch said in a peculiar tone, “The Crown Prince was walking alongside her like…”

Zhan Yin asked sternly, “Like what?”

“Like…a servant.”

Slam. The table cracked. Zhan Yin who also practiced martial arts roared in fury. “She’s just a princess from a lost country. Instead of keeping her head low and being a good person, she dared to provoke the Jin royal family in public just like this. Even when this princess had broken her leg back then, this princess doesn’t dare to travel by carriage in the palace!”

Zhan Jin reminded her, “You also traveled by sedan chair back then.”

“I’m the Jin Princess, is she?!”

In the Xile Pavilion, angry murmurs filled the air. In the end, everyone in the royal family thought it was absurd for Zhan Lue to exchange a beauty for ten cities. They were also mad at his decision.

The atmosphere in the pavilion became tense because of Xian Sheng again. The princesses puffed their cheeks up while the princes knitted their brows tightly. They all thought that Princess Xian Sheng was excessive.

Zhan Yin’s face was flushed from anger and she glared with her wide eyes.

Zhan Jin couldn’t help but remind her again. “Royal brother treasures her right now. You better not offend her.”

Zhan Yin replied, “I must reveal that princess’ real face to him!”

“What real face?”

“I think she has the intention of causing great turmoil to our Jin Country.”

At this moment, Xian Sheng finally arrived at the Xile Pavilion after a jolting ride. Zhan Yin didn’t listen to any advice after she heard of the news. She quickly rushed out and a whole group of princes and princesses followed behind her.

She walked to Zhan Lue while the latter raised his brows. “What are you planning on doing in that energetic manner?”

Zhan Yin looked at the carriage and hid her motive. “I, I am naturally here to pick up royal sister-in-law…I’m eager to see her.”

While saying this, she walked to the other side of the carriage.

Inside, Xian Sheng was rubbing his eyes. He moved forward to pull the curtains to the side. The comment he did, he felt as though the left wheel was smashed by someone. In the next second, the carriage tilted forward. The horse was startled and neighed loudly.

Zhan Lue grabbed the reins in one hand and he flew over the horse, steadying the entire carriage. However, half of Xian Sheng’s body was already out of the window. He was terrified, but Zhan Lue carried him in one hand. He then kicked and jumped out, leaning towards the other side of the carriage. They heard a loud bang and the carriage fell apart.

Zhan Lue glanced at the person in his arms. In a light tone, “Princess?”

Ding.

The hair accessory made a noise as it hit the ground. Xian Sheng’s heart raced, but he quickly calmed down and said, “I’m fine.”

He held onto Zhan Lue’s shoulders and said in a low voice, “Let me down first.”

Zhan Lue placed him down and looked gloomily at Zhan Yin. The latter had already moved to the side when the carriage was tilting. Right now, she avoided his scary gaze.

Zhan Lue exclaimed, “Come over and apologize.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong!” Zhan Yin said without hesitation. When she turned around and prepared to reason with her elder brother, she noticed that the Liang Princess had looked at her. She sucked in a breath when their gazes met. She was shortly stunned.

“Zhan Yin!”

“S…sorry.” Zhan Yin parted her lips, murmuring at a loss of what to do. “I…didn’t do it on purpose.”

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