Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 857 - 19: Marriage Alliance with Zhao Country (Part 3)

Chapter 857: Chapter 19: Marriage Alliance with Zhao Country (Part 3)

The voices of the civil servants were drowned out, and no one listened to what they had to say.

At this moment, a minister from the Ministry of Revenue spoke up, "This year’s spring drought has affected the seedlings, resulting in a harvest significantly less than in previous years. The Regent King has embezzled quite a bit of silver, leaving the people destitute. The national treasury doesn’t have much silver left to support a large-scale war."

Upon hearing there was no money, the military officers, eager to start a war, finally fell silent.

Just then, someone proposed, "I have an idea, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to speak it out."

Ling Yuezi said, "In court discussions, one should feel free to speak. Please go ahead, Mr. Wu."

This was an official from the Ministry of Rites.

He said, "Nowadays, our Nanyue has reconciled with Zhao Country, whose national strength far surpasses that of the barbaric capital like Funan Country. How about marrying into Zhao Country? With Zhao Country’s protection, should Funan Country cause trouble again in the future, could Zhao Country still stand by and do nothing?"

Marriage alliances have always been a diplomatic strategy for weak countries since ancient times.

Ling Yuezi did not oppose, "This idea is feasible. The Emperor of Zhao Country is only in his twenties and reportedly has no offspring. If a daughter from our Nanyue marries there and has a son or daughter, it could become a great asset for Nanyue."

Prime Minister Lv said, "The Eldest Princess speaks wisely."

Among the other ministers, some agreed, some opposed.

The opposition wasn’t against the marriage alliance itself but concerned about the lack of a suitable candidate, fearing that sending a fake princess might be discovered by Zhao Country, which would backfire.

The late Emperor had only Ling Yuezi and Ling Xingyun as children; many other members of the Ling Family perished in the rebellion seven years ago.

The remaining Ling Family members were from very distant branches with relatively low status.

Ling Yuezi said, "Regarding the marriage alliance, since none of the senior ministers oppose it, let’s discuss the details further. If there’s no princess, we can appoint an outstanding lady as a princess."

Ling Xingyun said, "This idea is feasible."

That’s all they could do. The ministers chanted ’Long live the Emperor’ three times, and no one opposed further.

.

After deciding on the marriage alliance, an official letter was drafted to be sent to Zhao Country.

Ling Yuezi instructed the Imperial Ceremony Officer of the Ministry of Rites to select the Princess of Heqin from among the noble families in the Capital.

Although marrying into the prosperous capital of Zhao Country was advantageous, it meant going far away, and no family was willing to send their daughter.

All the noble families in the Capital were filled with anxiety.

Many families secretly betrothed their daughters to prevent them from becoming marriage alliance candidates, conducting the betrothal one day and completing the wedding ceremony the next.

The matchmakers in the Capital were overwhelmed with work.

Upon learning of this, Ling Yuezi frowned and personally visited each official’s family to persuade them.

After visiting seven or eight families, each of them wept to her.

Just as she was about to decide on a drawing lots system to select a candidate, the head of a distant branch of the Ling Family came to the palace to see her.

He expressed his willingness to send his youngest daughter for the marriage alliance.

This was a descendant of a distant brother of the Grand Ancestor.

He was so distantly related that by his generation, he no longer had any chance of inheriting a title and was currently just an eighth-rank official drafting documents at the Ministry of Rites.

In terms of seniority, Ling Yuezi had to call him uncle.

"Oh? Seventh Uncle Ling is willing to send his youngest daughter for the marriage alliance?" Ling Yuezi addressed him as Seventh Uncle according to his family rank.

Seventh Master Ling was so emotional that he was almost in tears, finally finding a chance for promotion and prosperity.

He performed a grand bow to Ling Yuezi, "Eldest Princess, I am unworthy and lack the bravery of our ancestors to don armor and fight for the Emperor. I only have a young daughter, naturally beautiful and wise. I am willing to send her for the marriage alliance to relieve the worries of the Emperor and the Eldest Princess."

Ling Yuezi said, "How old is your younger sister? What books has she read, and is she skilled in sewing and needlework?"

Seventh Master Ling nods repeatedly, "She’s sixteen and has read many books; she’s read all the books other girls in the city have. She’s been practicing sewing and needlework since she was young."

Saying so, he unfolded a drawing from his sleeve for Ling Yuezi to see.

The young girl depicted in the drawing was charming and lively, with a look of intelligence in her eyes.

Ling Yuezi smiled, "In that case, Seventh Uncle, bring her to the palace tomorrow morning so I can have a look."

Seventh Master Ling was overjoyed, "Yes, Eldest Princess."

.

Early the next day, after seeing the nanny feed the two children and watching Ah Qing play with them, Seventh Master Ling arrived with his daughter.

The girl was just as she appeared in the drawing, slender and beautiful, with sharp eyes exuding cleverness.

However, her expression was somewhat cold.

Ling Yuezi did not mind, "So, this is Ling Luo?"

Seventh Master Ling urged his daughter, "Quickly, greet the Eldest Princess!"

Ling Luo took a look at Ling Yuezi and stepped forward to perform a standard noble lady’s bow, "Ling Luo greets the Eldest Princess."

"Hmm, not bad. From today, you will stay here," Ling Yuezi gestured for her to rise and ordered the maid to prepare a seat.

Ling Luo bit her lip, "Yes, Eldest Princess."

Seventh Master Ling expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Eldest Princess, for your kindness."

After sending Seventh Master Ling away, Ling Yuezi personally tested Ling Luo’s knowledge.

She found the girl to be more intelligent than she had expected and even learned martial arts.

Going for a marriage alliance was a significant responsibility.

Ling Yuezi explained to Ling Luo the mission of being a Princess of Heqin.

Ling Luo looked at her with a calm expression, "Yes, Eldest Princess."

.

Ling Yuezi selected a capable nanny to teach Ling Luo palace etiquette, and due to Ling Luo’s intelligence, she learned it all within a few days.

Next, Ling Yuezi arranged for her to be taught music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Unexpectedly, the girl was already skilled and didn’t need teaching.

Such a perfect person made Ling Yuezi very satisfied.

.

The official letter sent to Zhao Country regarding the marriage alliance received a reply.

Ling Yuezi informed Ling Xingyun that the candidate for the Princess of Heqin had been decided, and Ling Xingyun conferred Ling Luo as Princess Pingchang, granting her father, Seventh Master Ling, the title of Uncle Zhongyi and bestowing a house and numerous gold and silver.

In short, the Ling Family rose to prominence through their daughter, but Ling Luo’s expression became even colder.

.

After the Full Moon Festival, the High Priest of Xuanxing Pavilion divined an auspicious day.

Ling Yuezi, along with Ling Luo, several Ministry of Rites officials, and an entourage of guards, set off for the marriage alliance with Zhao Country.

The entourage included the little maid Ziying and two nannies with two children.

The marriage alliance team’s first destination in Zhao Country was Zhen An Prefecture.

Ling Yuezi ordered a message to be sent ahead.

Upon learning it was the marriage alliance team, Zhen An Prefecture’s Prefect Lou personally welcomed them.

Ling Yuezi visited Zhen An Prefecture primarily to meet Li Xingsheng.

During her rest after meeting with Prefect Lou, Ling Yuezi quietly went to the Li Mansion.

To her surprise, the gates of the Li Mansion were tightly shut, and the place was deserted.

She inquired with the neighbors about the whereabouts of the Li Family, and they told her that the family had left for another place, but they didn’t know where.

Ling Yuezi discreetly inquired about Lou Chengye and found that neither Chengye nor his wife was home, as they had also gone to visit relatives in another place.

Feeling disappointed, Ling Yuezi came to see Li Xingsheng with joy but ended up not even knowing where he had gone.

Remembering her mission, she tucked those feelings of disappointment away and continued northward to the Zhao Country Capital with the marriage alliance team.

. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

A month and a half later, Ling Yuezi arrived at the Zhao Country Capital with the marriage alliance team.

But what cooled her spirits even more was the news that the Emperor of Zhao Country had passed away!

The current occupant was an almost fifty-year-old emperor!

Upon receiving the news, she was caught in a dilemma.

The official letter had been completed; if they turned back now, Zhao Country would surely take offense.

But if they proceeded with the marriage alliance, how could she explain it to Seventh Master Ling, having his sixteen-year-old niece marry an emperor nearly fifty?

While she was fretting, someone came hurriedly to report that Ling Luo had escaped.

"What?" Ling Yuezi was furious, "She actually dared to run away?"

"Eldest Princess, Princess Pingchang said she came to marry a young emperor, not an old one," the maid trembled, kneeling on the ground to report.

Ling Yuezi frowned deeply, just about to order a search for Princess Pingchang when emissaries from the Zhao Royal Family arrived to invite her and the Princess of Heqin to a banquet.

Ling Yuezi was utterly vexed and had to feign happiness and agree to the invitation.

After sending off the Zhao envoy, Ling Yuezi promptly arranged for the maid Ziying to lead a secret search for Ling Luo.