Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 507 Agreeing to the Marriage, the Real Intention

The Qianqing Palace fell silent once again.

Xu Fengnian and the others looked at Xu Weixiong with complicated feelings, and then secretly glanced at Yan Yimei. Their gazes toward Yan Yimei were full of wariness and unspoken words.

After all, no one wants their hidden secrets and identity to be exposed to others without reservation.

Thinking of the many rumors circulating in the city, their gazes toward Yan Yimei gradually changed.

Yan Yimei felt a little uncomfortable under their gazes and snorted coldly, "Unless His Majesty needs it, or the Secret Guard needs it for their investigation, I, the Marquis, will not be so bored as to investigate your secrets."

"Like being a reincarnation of a celestial warrior, enjoying music in brothels, chasing after ten masters and demons of the Northern Barbarians, drinking 'famous wine' after accidentally entering a black market, and someone secretly liking someone else, etc."

In an instant, Xu Fengnian, Xu Yanbing, and Chen Zhibao were struck as if by lightning.

Their eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at Yan Yimei, their lips trembling and their bodies shaking. They wanted to accuse her, but were too intimidated by her presence to speak, and could only curse her inwardly.

Is this what you call not being so bored as to investigate their secrets?

It's practically like tearing off their last layer of underwear, isn't it?
It seemed like the reincarnation of Zhenwu from heaven. Xu Fengnian himself had a premonition recently, but he was not clear about it yet. He was quite shocked after it was revealed, but he quickly accepted it and fell into deep thought.

Xu Yanbing lowered his head with a dark face. If this were anywhere else, he would have killed the witness to silence them, regardless of their identity. Anyone who knew that he had drunk that bullshit liquor mixed with horse urine and all sorts of filth would die.

But now he can't do it.

Xu Yanbing didn't know how strong Yan Yimei was, but he knew that even if he and Chen Zhibao, along with all the experts from the Northern Liang Royal Palace, attacked together, they would just be easy prey.

It is suspected to be a being above the celestial beings on land, whose blade has slain immortals from the heavens and the lower realms.

Its power was beyond Xu Yanbing's imagination.

Chen Zhibao blushed for a moment before quickly lowering his gaze. Ever since he learned of Xu Xiao's plan and Xu Weixiong's agreement, he knew that his little secret thoughts, which he couldn't hide, would ultimately come to nothing.

A hint of mockery flashed in Yan Yi's eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

While the group was lost in thought, Zhu Jinzhen pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded and looked at Xu Fengnian: "Go back and tell Xu Xiao that I have agreed to this marriage."

Xu Weixiong's dowry was the entire Northern Liang.

A million-strong army, along with the people of Beiliang, and the Liyang Dynasty within easy reach.

With such a tempting offer presented to him, Zhu Jinzhen couldn't think of a reason to refuse.

Xu Wei Xiong wasn't pretty enough?
That was only in comparison to the peerless beauties like Changsun Wangqing, Huang Rong, Lian Nishang, and Lin Shiyin. Compared to ordinary people, Xu Weixiong was considered a pretty woman, a graceful and elegant young lady from a prominent family.

Do you have any ulterior motives or ambitions?

Zhu Jinzhen didn't care at all; he never cared that the people around him had ambitions.

All you need is strong enough ability.

A conspiracy or a scheme?

Others might be afraid, but Zhu Jinzhen wasn't afraid at all.

He has always believed in absolute power and absolute strength; the absolute truth is that one force can overcome ten techniques.

"Huh? You agreed?"

Xu Fengnian was stunned and didn't react for a moment.

He thought that if the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty knew his second sister's true identity, he would at least not agree to it, even if he felt deceived and was furious.

To be honest, Xu Fengnian didn't really think his second sister was pretty.

Compared to many stunning beauties he had ever seen, she paled in comparison.

But Xu Fengnian quickly realized what was happening and bowed with a beaming smile, replying, "Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming. I will immediately send a message back to Beiliang to inform my father of this matter." Xu Weixiong, standing to the side, was stunned for a moment upon seeing Zhu Jinzhen agree.

She quickly realized what was happening, and a blush spread across her face.

However, due to his personality, Xu Weixiong, despite feeling shy, still waited patiently for the final decision on the matter.

"Wait a minute."

Zhu Jinzhen stopped Xu Fengnian, thought for a moment, and said, "Later I will issue an edict to inform the Ministry of Rites about all the etiquette that the concubines should have, as well as the various betrothal gifts. I will give you a gift list, and you can take it back with you."

"So that people won't say that I don't know etiquette."

"what?"

Xu Fengnian was stunned for a moment, but still felt the cold, deathly gaze from the side, so he quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Then I will wait a few more days."

"Ah."

"Go down."

Zhu Jinzhen waved his hand, signaling Xu Fengnian and the others to step back.

Watching Xu Fengnian and his entourage leave happily, Yan Yimei couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, you seem to be quite fond of that Second Princess of Beiliang?"

"Do not."

Zhu Jinzhen shook his head and said jokingly, "I prefer the land of Liyang."

"what?"

Yan Yimei opened her mouth in surprise, unable to react for a moment.

Zhu Jinzhen smiled and said, "You still subconsciously hold onto many of your old ideas. I ask you, did the Great Song and Great Sui go to great lengths to contact various parties in order to form an alliance against the Great Ming? They even sent people to Northern Mang, Liyang, and Northern Li."

"This is!"

Yan Yimei hesitated for a moment, then nodded affirmatively and replied, "Yesterday, the secret guards sent back the latest intelligence from the Mongol Yuan. Wang Xianzhi fought fiercely in the Mongol Yuan capital and killed several Northern Mang masters, including the Northern Mang Grand Master Tuoba Pusa, the Qilin True Man Yuan Qingshan, and others who were at the Land Immortal Realm."

"The group of Northern Barbarian demons and experts who accompanied them were also killed."

"Judging by the time, if Li Yang and Bei Li have agreed to the alliance between the Sui and Song dynasties, they will probably not remain silent and will send people to the Central Plains soon."

Zhu Jinzhen was not surprised, as he had already read this intelligence over the past few days.

Looking at Yan Yimei, who had a thirst for knowledge, Zhu Jinzhen still had a smile on his face and said, "Beiliang is powerful, and Xu Xiao's prestige in Beiliang is unmatched. If he sincerely submits, as long as I lend a helping hand, with Beiliang's military strength and Xu Xiao's command ability, the experts I send as external aid can completely take Liyang without bloodshed."

In any case, since they were not his subjects, civilians, or soldiers for the time being, no matter how many sacrifices were made, Zhu Jinzhen believed it would be a bloodless victory.

Yan Yimei nodded solemnly.

"Then tell me, if I were to take over Beiliang first and send a large number of experts and troops to reinforce Beiliang, and take advantage of the situation to bring Liyang into the territory of my Great Ming, we could either join forces with the Mongol Yuan to attack Beimang or retreat to block Beili."

"How will Yang Guang and Zhao Ji react when they learn of this news?"

"A coalition of nations to resist the Ming Dynasty?"

"I cut off all their external support first, and now they're relying on the Sui Dynasty, the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, the Liao Dynasty, and a few small countries like the Jin Dynasty, Dali, and Tibet to fight against my Great Ming?"

"When the decisive battle comes... I will show them what a surprise is."

"What does it mean to be...despair!"

(End of this chapter)