Priceless: A widow with a baby asks the prince to marry again

Alatan, the young man who lost the martial arts competition to win a wife because of his father and brother, bowed silently to Qin Shuangyu, then quickly raised his eyes to glance at Qin Zhen who was in tears on the viewing platform, then turned around and retreated neatly, his back showing a sense of determination.

Then, another Northern Tribe warrior stepped forward to challenge Qin Shuangyu.

General Wei Yu had obviously done some research on the applicants, and he was still ruthless in his attack. The second challenger Batu was very powerful, but Wei Yu was also serious!

The battle was even more intense than the previous arena match. After a long and fierce battle, Qin Shuangyu finally emerged as the unrivaled fighter! He ruthlessly defeated Batu! The roars from the audience were so intense that the martial-minded Northern Tribe became excited!

Until the fourth challenger came on stage. This man had an ordinary appearance but a strong build, and his martial arts skills were quite solid. After exchanging a few moves with Qin Shuangyu, he finally broke through the obstruction with great difficulty and threw the flower branch into Qin Zhen's jade bottle.

Qin Zhen watched the strange northern man put the flowers into the vase, and her heart felt even more blocked. She couldn't help but burst into tears.

Qin Shuangyu, who had been secretly watching his daughter, saw this scene, and a trace of imperceptible panic and clumsy heartache appeared on his majestic and tough face.

During a break in the ceremony, he quickly walked to the viewing platform and spoke to the still-sobbing Qin Zhen in a deliberately low voice, with a hint of coaxing, yet also stiff, "Zhen'er, don't cry... Dad picked this one for you, Jirigala, she looks a little older... Actually, she just turned eighteen, the perfect age, and she's still unmarried! I heard she's a nice person, usually gentle..."

This explanation was more like the old father trying to prove the rationality of his "screening" rather than comforting. Liu Rusi shook her head secretly when she heard it.

Qin Zhen's crying didn't stop. Instead, this clumsy "good news" made her feel even more aggrieved and sad. She burst into tears, "Dad! I don't like... I don't want this! I won't get married... I won't marry!"

In the distance, the Northern tribe man who had won the marriage proposal was clearly watching over here, his soon-to-be wife... Although he couldn't hear her from the distance, he could still understand the reluctance expressed in her tears and gestures...

Prince Kang, who was also on the viewing platform, saw this and frowned, scolding him, "Changning! But the Royal Aunt has spoiled you rotten! How dare you act so recklessly in such an occasion!"

Qin Zhen was startled by King Kang's sudden harsh rebuke, and her cries were immediately choked in her throat, turning into uncontrollable sobs.

She lowered her head, her shoulders shaking slightly, tears still sliding down silently, soaking her gorgeous skirt. The sadness and grievance did not dissipate, but were suppressed, making her look even more pitiful.

Prince Kang, Chu Shikun, saw his usually spoiled cousin in this state, and a trace of pity crossed his pale, sickly face. He sighed softly, and his voice slowed down a bit, with a hint of soothing advice: "Changning, don't be so willful. If we are talking about the purpose of the marriage alliance alone, the best choice is Batu, the second one who challenged us just now. He is the eldest son of the leader of a major northern tribe and has great prestige. However... he is already married and has a young child."

Chu Shikun paused, then spoke in a gentle voice, like a spring breeze, "Your father fought bravely to stop this man, and he also took the trouble to select Jirigala for you... Although he comes from a small tribe, he is young and innocent, and his temperament is said to be gentle. Your father is truly choosing a son-in-law for you, not just a utilitarian marriage. You should be happy."

These words made perfect sense, highlighting Qin Shuangyu's choice between power considerations and his fatherly instincts. Qin Zhen's sobs softened, but she still lowered her head in sorrow, clearly not yet fully reconciled.

Liu Rusi watched all this silently from the side. She deeply agreed with what King Kang said.

General Qin Shuangyu, known as the mighty General, may be rough and direct in his actions, and his mind may not be very meticulous, but he has a sincere heart that cares deeply about his children.

To some extent, this is also a good thing for the entire Qin family - it allows the outside world to see that Qin Shuangyu cares most about the happiness and well-being of his children at home, rather than considering the "ambition" that may arouse suspicion.

She glanced sideways at the young man from the Northern Tribe named Jirigala in the distance. His burly figure seemed a little stiff as he stood there uncomfortably, his eyes fixed on Qin Zhen, who was crying in the viewing platform.

That ordinary face was clearly filled with embarrassment, helplessness, and even a hint of hurt - he won the competition and got the "qualification", but his future wife's resistance was so clear and open.

Liu Rusi sighed in her heart, wondering whether the fruit of this marriage would be bitter or sweet in the future.

As the fifth prince Chu Shihuan selected a young leader from a powerful tribe in the north for Princess Chu Rou, this grand martial arts competition and marriage ceremony finally came to an end as night fell.

The rhythm of the entire event was controlled to perfection, like a carefully choreographed drama, which ended successfully under the night sky of Guiyuan City as the stars began to appear.

What followed was a grand bonfire dinner hosted by the newly succeeded Yuan Wang Gegen himself.

A huge bonfire was burning fiercely in the center of the square, and crackling sparks shot straight into the night sky, illuminating the faces of the Daxia high-level officials, the leaders of the northern tribes, and the newly-elected representatives of the "Prince Yuan's people", some of whom were reserved, some bold, and some curious and excited.

The air is filled with the rich aroma of roasted whole lamb and beef, and the mellow flavor of milk wine. The sounds of laughter and clinking glasses are endless. The tension of the day is temporarily dispelled by the warm atmosphere of fireworks.

The atmosphere at the banquet was lively.

Jirigala, the young man from the Northern Tribe who had won Qin Zhen's "marriage," had clearly been struggling internally for a long time. Finally, he mustered the courage, left his tribe's seat, and with a slightly uneasy step, made his way through the crowd to Qin Zhen, who was surrounded and comforted by Fang Qiu and Liu Rusi.

His massive figure cast a shadow over Qin Zhen, his face clearly showing nervousness and uneasiness. He took a deep breath and spoke Chinese with a thick northern accent, struggling and sincere, "Princess...if...you really don't want to...tell me, and we'll...cancel this marriage...I don't want to see you cry."

His words were stiff and fragmented, but the sincerity and concern in his eyes were clear.

Qin Zhen, who had been lowering her head in anger, suddenly raised her tearful face and looked at him in astonishment. The grievance and anger in her heart seemed to be choked by this blunt proposal to give up the "fruits of victory."

She opened her mouth, but ultimately only bit her lip and lowered her head even harder. Coming to her senses, she knew better than anyone that this marriage was no longer something she could influence on her own terms. Decided before the eyes of the Great Xia court, the various northern tribes, and even the people of Prince Yuan, this marriage, symbolizing the fusion of the two races, was not something she could easily overturn with a simple "I don't want to." She couldn't, and didn't dare, bear the consequences and accusations of going back on her word.

Seeing her silence, the faint glimmer of hope on Jirigala's face dimmed, replaced by a deeper sense of unease and bewilderment. He rubbed his rough hands together and spoke again with difficulty, his voice tinged with a hint of shy anticipation: "I... will be waiting for you... in Guiyuan City... for seven days... If you're willing... please send someone to find me... and I'll come pick you up..."

After saying this, he seemed to have used up all his courage. He didn't dare to look at Qin Zhen's reaction again. He bowed deeply and stiffly, then turned around hurriedly and fled back to his relatively deserted seat.

Qin Zhen looked at his back as he left in a hurry, and the feeling in her heart became even more complicated and indescribable.

"Tsk," Fang Qiu, who was sitting on the left of Qin Zhen, had been watching this scene with great interest. At this moment, he nudged Qin Zhen lightly with his elbow, with a hearty smile on his face, and commented carelessly: "I think he is pretty good! He has solid skills! He can fight with your father for several moves! He is also strong and looks reliable! He is much better than the boy with thin arms and legs that you liked before, who looked like he would fall down at the slightest breeze!" The "boy" she was referring to was naturally Altan.

"Fang Qiu!" Qin Zhen was already feeling annoyed. Upon hearing this, she immediately glared at her friend like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Why do you look at my brother the same way?! Do you only care about strength and nothing else?"

"Hmm?" Fang Qiu was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up. He approached Qin Zhen with a mischievous smile, "No way? Does that idiot Qin Tao have the same taste as me? He also thinks this Jirigala is good?"

"More than just good!" Qin Zhen got even angrier when she mentioned this, her face puffing up. "Right after the marriage proposal was over today, my brother went to fight Jirigala! Both of them were covered in bruises! In the end, my brother narrowly won, and after the fight, he came over to tell me he thought he was 'very good'!"

She imitated her brother's excited tone and stamped her feet in anger. "I'm choosing a husband! I'm not choosing a captain for the vanguard battalion! Why do you only care about martial arts skills and fist size?"

Liu Rusi, who had been listening silently to the conversation between the two girls, noticed something interesting: Qin Zhen and Fang Qiu, both from military families and both having admired Chu Shiyu, had distinctly different views on choosing a partner. Fang Qiu clearly placed greater emphasis on actual martial prowess, while Qin Zhen... Liu Rusi looked at Qin Zhen's pretty face, which was filled with dissatisfaction with the "only focus on martial prowess" mentality, and a thought occurred to her.

"Zhen'er, hearing what you said... when you choose a husband, do you choose... someone who is good-looking?" Her tone was gentle and inquiring, and her eyes fell calmly on Qin Zhen's face.

Unexpectedly, Qin Zhen turned around, with a matter-of-fact look on her face, even a little surprised at being asked, and asked back: "What else? If you want to be with someone for the rest of your life, you naturally have to choose someone you like and who makes you happy!" That look was as if this was a fundamental truth that was self-evident and needed no further explanation.

"Do you have to look at your face for the rest of your life?" Fang Qiu obviously disagreed.

Liu Rusi also nodded and said, "People will grow old. No matter how beautiful a face is, it can't resist the passage of time."

"At least..." Qin Zhen's gaze subconsciously turned to Jirigala's table, but she was not looking at Jirigala - her brother Qin Tao actually pulled Altan to sit at Jirigala's table!

The three young men, who had only moments ago been exchanging blows, were now arm in arm, as warm and friendly as old friends, with a heroic air of "no fight, no acquaintance." Qin Zhen looked at Altan's handsome face, still clear in the firelight, and muttered quietly, "I'll be able to keep him for a few more years, at least."

Liu Rusi pondered for a moment. While Qin Zhen's thoughts were admittedly naive, she felt it was wrong to force a fifteen-year-old into a marriage with a stranger, given the circumstances. She softly suggested, "Zhen'er, although the marriage is already decided, it doesn't seem to require immediate consummation, right?"

"What do you mean?" Fang Qiu asked curiously with bright eyes. Liu Rusi always came up with refreshing insights!

"I think Jirigala seems easy to talk to... You can ask him if he can wait for one or two years until you get to know each other before considering getting married." As Liu Rusi said this, she suddenly thought of the time she spent with Qin Lie... She had already signed the marriage certificate and married into his family, but he was willing to suppress his impulsiveness and did not overstep his bounds for three years just because of her request... Countless facts have proved that Qin Lie is an extremely good person.

Qin Zhen's eyes lit up and Fang Qiu gave her a thumbs up.

Liu Rusi gave them a gentle smile, but before she could fade her smile, she felt a burning gaze... She turned her head and saw Prince Duan Chu Shiyu staring at her in the distance. His auspicious eyes were full of concern and a love so strong that it almost melted her in the warm light of the campfire.

Qin Zhen was not a shy person. Once she had an idea, she immediately sent her personal maid to Jirigala to pass on the message.

Not long after, the maid brought back the answer: The young man from the northern tribe agreed without hesitation, and only expressed his willingness to wait for the princess to open her heart.

This news brought a great deal of relief to the troubled Princess Changning. At least, the imminent pressure of having to face a completely unfamiliar husband had temporarily subsided.

The drama in Mobei has come to an end.

The core goals of Daxia's trip - eliminating the threat from the northern tribes, enthroning King Yuan, and concluding a marriage alliance - have all been achieved.

What remained was a protracted process of development and consolidation, a task that could not be accomplished overnight. More crucially, the daily expenditure of food and fodder for these 400,000-strong troops stranded in the northern border was astronomical. Even with the might of Daxia, this waste of resources was unacceptable.

However, the army could not withdraw all at once. The new Yuan prince, Gegen, still needed time to consolidate his power and organize the royal court. Construction on the imperial mausoleum for the last emperor and the last crown prince, Seriguleng, had only just begun. Furthermore, the marriage between the Yuan prince and Princess Chu Xin required a 49-day mourning period for the last crown prince before an auspicious date could be chosen.

Princess Chu Xin needs to stay and wait for the wedding date, while Princess Chu Rou and Qin Zhen, the nominally engaged Princess Changning, need to go to the tribes of their future husbands to "get familiar" with them and maintain superficial harmony - even if Qin Zhen does not get married for the time being, this gesture is indispensable.

Qin Tao patted his chest and volunteered to escort his sister Qin Zhen to Jirigala's tribe, under the pretext of "inspecting the performance of his brother-in-law." But the eager look on his face clearly showed that he had not had enough fun in the north.

But General Weiyu, Qin Shuangyu, could not go along. Daxia's military regulations were strict: for any general above the rank of deputy general, at least one of his father, son, or brother must remain in the capital. Now that the battle in Mobei had been settled and the special mission concluded, this iron rule re-entered.

Despite his immense reluctance and anxiety for his daughter, Qin Shuangyu could only suppress them. He ordered the Qin family army to allocate 1,500 elite soldiers, commanded by Qin Tao, to protect Qin Zhen. As for the main force of the Qin family army, Prince Duan Chu Shiyu was to oversee their repatriation to the northwest.

If it weren't for his daughter, General Wei Yu would rather fly back to the capital immediately and stay by his grandson Qin Hao's side than to the Qin family army.

Prince Kang Chu Shikun and the Fifth Prince Chu Shihuan volunteered to remain. Citing their "brotherly responsibilities and escorting the imperial sister to her wedding," they stated they would remain in Mobei until the weddings of Princesses Chu Xin and Chu Rou were completed. This high-sounding excuse naturally included the opportunity to assist Prince Xinyuan in controlling the royal court and paving the way for Daxia to further penetrate the grasslands.

Prince Duan Chu Shiyu was tasked with leading a 300,000-man army, including the main force of the Zhenyuan Army, to triumph and return to the imperial court. Liu Rusi, who had already made significant contributions during this trip, such as rescuing Prince Kang and promoting the establishment of a medical system, and who was unlikely to achieve further breakthroughs in the short term, was naturally eager to return.

She had been away for so long, and her son's daily letters had already expressed all his longing for her - but because she was outside Mobei, she could not reply in time.

The horn of the return journey can be faintly heard in the wind of Mobei.

Chu Shiyu's eyes were fixed on Liu Rusi. Bai Tiwu quietly approached the horse beside him, stretched out his broad palm quietly, and held her hand firmly, as if silently declaring: This time, no matter what the future holds, he will never let her leave his side again.