"Qingqing, come with me inside." Yang Xian lightly shook his head and walked into the study.

Yang Qingqing quickly followed.

Once inside the study, Yang Qingqing was the first to speak: "Father, what are you asking General Jiang to prepare the troops for?"

"The Chong Prince's Alliance Army has already confronted the Chen Army, and Fengzhou has fallen into the hands of Prince Huai." With a slight wave of Yang Xian's hand, the study's door closed.

Yang Qingqing was taken aback. Although she didn't pay much attention to these matters, they were too sensational to ignore, so she knew a little. Immediately, she said: "Are you going to send troops to aid the Chen Army, Father?"

After speaking, Yang Qingqing promptly continued: "But Father, didn't you say before that you wouldn't get involved in their conflict?"

"Now it's not a matter of wanting to participate or not." Yang Xian sighed and said.

"Why?" Yang Qingqing didn't understand.

But Yang Xian asked another question: "Qingqing, do you really not like Jiang Yu? Although he's a few years older than you, his character and demeanor are among the best, and most importantly, he has eyes only for you. For your sake, he still hasn't married."

"He's not a bad person, but I just don't like him. I've tried in my heart to accept him, but every time I see him, I want him to stay away from me. And he's a grown man; even if he's not achieving military accomplishments, to be revolving around me all day, I can't bear it." Whenever Yang Qingqing talked about Jiang Yu, she felt overwhelmed.

"Since you don't like him, I won't force you to marry him." Yang Xian said.

"Really?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingqing's face lit up with joy. She quickly rushed forward to hug Yang Xian's arm and began to gently shake it: "I knew father was the best to me."

It's important to know, Jiang Li is not only Yang Xian's top general, but his best friend as well.

When Yang Xian first took office at Shu Residence, he had no team of his own. It was Jiang Li who helped him, developing step by step from nothing to the present.

Yang Xian's ability to control Shu Residence had Jiang Li as absolutely the top contributor.

So Yang Xian had always thought of marrying Yang Qingqing to Jiang Li's son.

"Really." Yang Xian withdrew his arm, came to the back of the desk, and softly said, "Since you don't want to marry, then Tengluo will have to marry in your place."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingqing was momentarily dumbfounded. Tengluo was from her mother's side, also her cousin, three years younger than her.

After being dumbfounded for a moment, Yang Qingqing immediately became angry: "Father, you're forcing me!"

Yang Qingqing felt her father was using her cousin to pressure her into obediently marrying Jiang Yu.

Yang Xian's brows furrowed suddenly, he slapped the table before him and sternly said: "When you were thirteen, I wanted to betroth you to Jiang Yu. You said you were too young, and I agreed to wait a few years.

Later, when you came of age, I brought the matter up again, and you still found excuses. I relented. Now, you say you don't want to marry him, and I've still agreed. If I were truly forcing you, you would have been the Jiang Family's daughter-in-law on your coming of age day."

"But you... you can't just let Tengluo marry him." Yang Qingqing's eyes were red, feeling she implicated her cousin.

"Why not?" Yang Xian retorted.

"Tengluo doesn't like him either."

"You're not Tengluo, how do you know Tengluo doesn't like Jiang Yu? Moreover, when General Jiang's eldest and youngest daughters married your elder and second brothers, did they like your brothers? The Yang Family gained two daughters from the Jiang Family. You refusing to marry Jiang Yu already makes me feel very indebted to General Jiang. I can't ruin the marriage any further." Yang Xian said.

"I'll marry, I will marry Jiang Yu, is that not enough?" Yang Qingqing couldn't bear it anymore and began to weep, feeling her father was still using Tengluo to force her.

"Too late, I have other plans for your marriage." Seeing his daughter's tears, Yang Xian's expression softened, and he softly said: "When the time comes, Father will marry you to a great hero of this realm."

Yang Qingqing stared blankly at her father: "Father, what are you talking about?"

"Previously, I said it's no longer a matter of wanting or not wanting to participate. You asked why. Now let me answer you, this battle in Huai State will determine the greatest overlord in this realm..." Yang Xian said.

Yang Qingqing didn't fully understand.

"If Lu Sheng and the Chong Prince's Alliance win, I will have General Jiang send troops to aid the Alliance Army, delivering the final blow to Chen Mo. Then, I will marry you to either Lu Sheng or the Crown Prince of King Chong. If Chen Mo wins, I will have General Jiang send troops to aid the Chen Army; then I will marry you to Chen Mo."

After speaking, Yang Xian turned away. These words were indeed cruel to Yang Qingqing; throughout the matter, she was treated entirely as a tool. Yang Xian knew this, so he turned away, not looking at her.

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingqing's delicate body trembled, she involuntarily took two steps back, then stumbled and sat heavily on the ground, her heart in turmoil.

Whether it was Lu Sheng, the Crown Prince of King Chong, or Chen Mo, they all had wives. To betroth herself to any of them meant becoming a concubine.

Not to mention whether there was any liking involved, just the thought of being a concubine was something Yang Qingqing couldn't accept.

"Why?" Yang Qingqing, with eyes red, glared at Yang Xian.

"Why so many 'why's?" When Yang Qingqing first fell to the ground, Yang Xian indeed had a motion to turn and offer support, but he held back. He remained turned away, saying:

"From childhood to now, whatever you wanted, I gave you. You had access to all the best resources, without worries, without concerns. That was because a powerful group backed you, provided you with support, and if this group disappears, everything you enjoyed would cease to exist. Now, it's time for you to contribute to this group."