What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 284 - 280: I’m at Ease

"Your Majesty once summoned various princes, prime ministers, and other important ministers for a secret discussion. Both Prime Minister Wang and Prime Minister Zheng agreed to the marriage alliance, with very few opposing voices. Although the marriage alliance has not been officially decided, it is almost settled, just waiting for—"

"When do we attack?" Li Xingyuan interrupted without listening to the end, urging with a fierce and cold look, "Hurry up! Getting Ashina Duoduo’s head would make a great New Year’s gift!"

Li Mu didn’t look very excited: "No rush—"

"No rush? It’s not your wife being forced into a marriage alliance, is it?" Li Xingyuan swung the large knife in his hand and threw it violently to the ground.

Tang Xiaobai started coughing violently.

Li Xingyuan glared at her, "I wasn’t talking about you. Why are you so agitated?"

"Why are you agitated?" Qin Rong sneered, "Miss Tang isn’t your wife yet!"

Li Xingyuan shot her a glance, "What do you know?"

Qin Rong laughed, "With Miss Tang’s character, do you think she’d wait for your three years of mourning? All she cares about is the glory of the Duke Yan Mansion!"

Li Xingyuan felt a pang in his heart.

Indeed, even though Jiaojiao’er hadn’t talked about marriage for now, she also hadn’t promised him anything.

If the Dog Emperor threatened her with the Duke Yan Mansion to force her into a marriage alliance, she would most likely agree.

Thinking of this, Li Xingyuan glanced at the indifferent Crown Prince and decided to urge Miss Tang: "You’re not worried your sister is getting forced into a marriage alliance?"

Tang Xiaobai coughed twice and said, "It’s just entering the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager, and she’s not the only one being chosen."

The Turkic envoy indeed proposed marriage. Both the Emperor and the prime ministers showed interest, but the candidate hadn’t been decided. Someone came up with a sly move.

They selected a group of noblewomen from the capital, ostensibly to enter the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager, but at such a critical moment, anyone with eyes can see they are selecting candidates for the marriage alliance.

Or perhaps, making people think they are selecting candidates for the alliance.

Tang Jiaojiao is among these candidates.

"Miss Tang isn’t the best candidate for a marriage alliance; they are just using her to force Duke Yan to hand over military power." Li Mu said.

Various princes and prime ministers had their eyes on the powerful Duke Yan Mansion.

Even the Emperor couldn’t sit still anymore.

Tang Xiaobai sneered, "Handing over the military power would make us easy prey!"

Even with her father’s and brother’s illustrious military achievements, they couldn’t stop her sister from being summoned to the palace.

Without military power, a decree alone could decide their family’s fate.

"Kill Ashina Duoduo, and there’ll be no need for a marriage alliance." Li Xingyuan, now calm, said with even more bloodlust.

Tang Xiaobai disagreed: "Even if you kill Ashina Duoduo, there are still other Turkic tribes. Wipe out the Turkic people, and there’s still the newly surrendered Tuyuhun Crown Prince. There’s always a way to target us."

The issue lies with those who want to manipulate them.

Li Xingyuan gave Li Mu a piercing look.

Indeed, he couldn’t wait for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne by tomorrow.

"We have our plans. Don’t let others lead us by the nose," Li Mu said, "When the Turkic envoy brings back the news, Ashina Duoduo will truly lower his guard—"

"By then, it will be our best opportunity to launch an attack!"

...

Ordinary families don’t agree to marriage in one go either.

What’s more, the Turkic envoy came to the capital in great haste this time. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Although the Emperor had intentions to agree to the marriage alliance, the Turkic envoy needed to bring this intention back to Ashina Duoduo, who would then prepare lavish gifts and send trusted high officials to the capital to formally propose marriage.

The route the Turkic envoy took upon returning from the Capital City was the same as before.

Suizhou, Yinzhou, then crossing the Yellow River to the north.

The day they crossed the Yellow River happened to be New Year’s Eve.

Early in the morning, Tang Xiaobai specifically went to the high grounds of Fuyun Heap to watch the envoy cross the river.

Horses trotted on the icy surface in a gentle, harmonious manner.

"Who was sent from the court to appease the Turks?" Tang Xiaobai squinted, seeing someone dressed in purple among the group.

Civil and military officials of the third rank and above wear purple.

The third rank and above, that’s quite a significant level.

"Minister of Rites An Renjian," Li Mu said.

"Minister of Rites..." Tang Xiaobai murmured.

The Ministry of Rites, led by the Minister of Rites, is in charge of matters concerning foreign guests.

The Minister of Rites being sent shows the Emperor’s sincere intention to agree to the marriage alliance.

"Do you remember the poem I mentioned last time?" Tang Xiaobai suddenly asked.

"The Xiongnu looking north towards Fuyun Heap, slaughtering horses for the altar several times." Li Mu remembered it clearly; this poem was unfamiliar to him.

"I actually remember the last two lines," Tang Xiaobai said softly, "The Han Emperor now is divine and martial, refusing the marriage alliance to return." She sneered, "It’s quite a good poem, but not fitting."

This is a poem by Wang Zhihuan, telling the story of a Tang Emperor’s refusal to ally through marriage with the Turks.

Coming to the capital seeking marriage but returning in failure, and thus looking north towards Fuyun Heap, where he slaughtered horses for the altar, has long become an old tale.

Throughout history, many have praised Wang Zhaojun for her contributions to peace at the borders.

But everyone understands that refusing a marriage alliance is where the true confidence lies.

Now the court is choosing a marriage alliance not because they can’t win or can’t afford to fight.

But because the overarching situation is set, and it can now be used for strategic calculations.

Li Mu silently recited the poem in his heart and whispered, "Rest assured, as long as I live, I won’t fail this poem!"

Tang Xiaobai felt a rush of emotion at these words and turned to smile at him, "Alright, I trust you!"

...

That night, on the eve of the Han calendar, there was heavy snow.

Li Xingyuan led five hundred riders, advancing rapidly through the snow into Yin Mountain, launching a surprise attack on the Khagan Yatai.

Li Mu followed with the main army, the Turkic army scattered, with over ten thousand eliminated, but Ashina Duoduo escaped north on a thousand-mile horse.

"That one can really escape!" Li Xingyuan said, unwillingly.

The thousand-mile horse was truly exceptional; no one here could catch up.

Unable to catch up, they could only return for now.

How could this not leave Li Xingyuan grudging?

"He won’t escape," Li Mu said, "We’ll have to go to the Northern Desert sooner or later."

Tang Xiaobai was suddenly moved and asked, "What did Li Shu say to you just now?"

They had just returned from the Central Army Tent, with snowflakes still on their hats and clothes. Though their expressions were normal, it was apparent that Li Shu had nothing good to say when he sought them out.

The operation to attack the Khagan Yatai hadn’t notified Li Shu, nor did they consider the Minister of Rites An Renjian, who was still enjoying drinks with the Turks.

An Renjian fled amidst the chaos, returning earlier and finding Li Shu.

At that time, with the Little Ancestor and Li Xingyuan not yet returned, she hid in the tent and heard quite a commotion outside.

Luckily Qin Rong was still there, and the situation didn’t escalate.

"What was said?" Li Xingyuan sneered, "Nothing more than accusing us of making the court lose credibility with the Turks, without counting how many times we’ve been fooled!" He then suggested to Li Mu, "We need to keep an eye on Li Shu and An Renjian, stop them from sending word back to the Capital City, to prevent anyone from causing trouble!"

Tang Xiaobai listened and felt something was amiss.

After pondering for a while, she suddenly realized—

"If the news doesn’t reach the Capital City, then won’t my sister be unaware of the situation here?"

"Might she feel that...we are indifferent to her being forced into a marriage alliance?"