The envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom felt that he had finally accomplished his mission. A look of joy immediately appeared on his face. "Your Majesty of the Eastern Mausoleum, please accept the gifts. I'll return to report. I'm getting old, and it takes more time for this old bone on the road. So, I'm sorry I can't accompany Your Majesty for more conversation. I should set off now to report back."
Xiao Huaishi nodded and directly ordered the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom to be sent off. "Xiaolizi, come here and send the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom out properly."
After the envoy was sent out, Xiao Huaishi closed his eyes and rested for a while. Then he heard footsteps at the door and sensed someone's presence. However, there were probably only a few people in the whole world who could receive such special treatment, and in the capital, there was only Shen Yi. So, Xiao Huaishi said indifferently, "Come in, Shen Yi."
Only after getting the emperor's permission did Shen Yi enter.
Before Shen Yi could speak, Xiao Huaishi asked, "Did you know that the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom came to pay an audience just now?"
Shen Yi replied, "I know, but I don't know what the envoy said to Your Majesty."
Xiao Huaishi remained silent and continued to support his head with his eyes closed, seemingly thinking about something.
Seeing that the emperor ignored him, Shen Yi walked to the table beside on his own, poured himself a cup of tea, smelled it first, and then sipped it slowly.
Suddenly, Xiao Huaishi said, "You dare to drink my tea so casually?"
Shen Yi gently blew on the tea. Facing the might of the emperor, he showed no sign of concern. "The emperor's tea tastes even sweeter."
Xiao Huaishi seemed to be used to Shen Yi's behavior. Thinking of what the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom had said, he felt even more disheartened. "The top - grade Guanyin King tea is unique here." Instead of arguing with Shen Yi about whether the tea was sweet or not, he turned to another topic. "Today, the envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom brought several boxes of gold, silver, and jewels for me. They are very valuable."
Shen Yi put down the teacup, nodded thoughtfully, and said, "Two boxes of gold, silver, and jewels. Can't that relieve the temporary emptiness of the national treasury? But in my humble opinion, why would the Western Yue Kingdom be so kind? They must have other motives."
Xiao Huaishi smiled slightly and said, "You guessed right. It's easy to guess their purpose. They just want to have a marriage alliance to buy temporary peace."
"That makes sense." Shen Yi nodded, picked up the teacup again and took a sip to moisten his throat. He had to admit that the sweet Guanyin King tea was really addictive. "I heard that there was a conflict within the Helian royal family. After Helian Cheng ascended the throne, he wanted to kill Helian Yun. But unexpectedly, after Helian Yun disappeared for some time, he came back with a large number of troops to fight against Helian Cheng. Presumably, the Western Yue Kingdom is now facing both internal and external troubles. If we choose to attack the Western Yue Kingdom at this moment, it will be the best opportunity."
"But the national treasury is empty now, and we can't go to war!" Xiao Huaishi's words were like an arrow, waking Shen Yi up. Shen Yi's pupils dilated slightly, waiting to hear Shen Yi's next analysis.
"Indeed. So, Your Majesty agreed to the marriage alliance for the sake of all the people in the world?"
Xiao Huaishi nodded.
Although Shen Yi didn't quite hope to buy temporary peace in this way, because after the civil war in the Western Yue Kingdom ended, their spearhead might be pointed at the Eastern Mausoleum. It would be the best choice to take them down during the civil war. However, the common people would suffer the most in a war.
"I wonder which princess is coming for the marriage alliance and which prince she intends to marry?"
Xiao Huaishi walked down and said coldly, "It's the seventh princess of the Western Yue Kingdom. The envoy from the Western Yue Kingdom passed the message that they took a fancy to the fourth prince."
Shen Yi frowned slightly and was thinking secretly. No one knew what was on his mind.
"It's actually the fourth prince, Xiao Hanzhi. The seventh princess may not be willing to be a concubine. Only the fourth prince is the most suitable. However, it is not allowed for a foreign woman to be the queen of our country. Once the marriage alliance is successful, the fourth prince may have no chance to sit on the dragon throne."
But then he thought that the emperor usually doted on the fourth prince the most. Why would he let him marry a foreign woman? Sure enough, the emperor's mind couldn't be easily guessed.
"Of course, there is not only one princess coming for the marriage alliance. There is also a county princess accompanying her." While Shen Yi was in a daze, Xiao Huaishi said.
Another one? This marriage alliance was different from the previous ones. He had never heard that a princess and a county princess would be sent for a marriage alliance.
"So, Your Majesty already has someone in mind. The princess will marry the fourth prince. Is the other county princess going to be the fourth prince's concubine?"
Xiao Huaishi shook his head, showed a mysterious smile to Shen Yi, cleared his throat, and said in a loud voice, "Of course not. The county princess's marriage partner is you."
The emperor pointed at Shen Yi while speaking, but Shen Yi thought the emperor was joking with him. So, he forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, you can't be joking with me, can you?"
"Has the emperor ever taken back his words?" Xiao Huaishi said seriously. The might of the emperor was fully demonstrated at this moment, and no one was allowed to question it.
Shen Yi was so shocked that he spat out the tea in his mouth and said, "Your Majesty, please take back this order. When my parents are not around, there is no one to take charge of important matters. As the saying goes, 'A marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers.' My parents are not here. How can I get married without their permission? Moreover, a man should aim high. I really dare not get married before I pacify the world."
"Shen Yi, you should understand that as the great general of our Eastern Mausoleum, you should think about the common people in the world. If the two countries go to war, the common people will be the ones who get hurt. How innocent they are! Since there is a way to make the two countries friendly for a long time, why not do it? I'm not such a heartless person. Otherwise, what's waiting for you now will only be an imperial edict. Now I'm telling you this because I hope you can think it over carefully. Or do you prefer to sacrifice the common people in the world for your own marriage?"
Xiao Huaishi also walked to the opposite side of Shen Yi, poured a cup of tea, and said, "Think it over carefully. If you agree, everything will be fine. If you don't..." He sneered. "Wait for the imperial edict to be sent to the Night Shade Department tomorrow."
Shen Yi sighed. It seemed that the emperor would not be questioned this time. The emperor's order was hard to disobey. Although Shen Yi got along well with the emperor and didn't need to pay attention to the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects, at critical moments, the monarch was the monarch, and the subject was the subject.
"I don't mean that. It has always been my duty to make the common people live a good life and be free from the suffering of war. Not to mention marriage, I'm even willing to give up my life! I'm completely willing to do it!"