Tang Dynasty: To win Yang Guifei, they asked Emperor Xuanzong to die.

Ya Ru took a deep breath and walked forward according to the etiquette steps she had learned before.

At that moment, the Crown Prince and Li Longji were not in the palace; the father and son had probably gone to the study to talk, leaving Li Mao and Ya Ru standing there. Li Mao didn't care about this, since he had been neglected by Li Longji more than once, but Ya Ru was very nervous.

Standing in the center of the hall, she tried to calm herself down.

Today, she wore exquisite gowns, her hair piled high, making her appear even more dignified and beautiful. Who could have known that beneath these splendid garments lay a woman drenched in cold sweat?

Ya Ru's gaze involuntarily drifted to Li Mao, who was not far away, hoping to find some comfort from him.

Li Mao mouthed to her that she didn't need to be nervous.

The two stayed in the shop for half an hour when a eunuch suddenly announced, "His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince have arrived!"

A moment later, Li Longji and Li Heng slowly emerged from behind the screen, both staring intently at Ya Ru. Ya Ru felt their intense gazes and lowered her head, her heart filled with growing unease.

As soon as Ya Ru's figure came into view, Li Longji's eyes lit up. Ignoring the fact that she was his son's fiancée, he smiled and said, "Raise your head and let me take a good look. Are you the daughter of the Wolf King of the Grasslands?"

Ya Ru raised her head shakily and replied in a slightly nervous voice, "Yes, Your Majesty, I am Ya Ru from Wusun."

Actually, she wasn't from the Wusun clan; she just now took the surname of the Wolf Lord.

Li Longji nodded and praised, "She is truly beautiful. She has more exotic charm than Han women, yet she is not as rough and rude as ordinary foreign women. She looks very gentle and obedient."

Li Heng, standing beside him, also revealed a barely perceptible smile, but he quickly composed himself and said seriously, "I've heard that you have outstanding talents. Why don't you perform for me and my father now?"

Upon hearing this, Ya Ru's heart tightened.

Although her dancing skills have improved considerably under Jiang Caiyue's careful guidance these past few days, she still feels a lot of pressure performing in front of Li Longji and Li Heng.

However, the father and son sitting in the superior position were both staring at her, brooking no refusal whatsoever.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, please enlighten me," Ya Ru forced a smile and replied softly.

She longed to see Li Mao and ask him for some strength.

However, she knew she couldn't do that. She had been offered up as the Crown Prince's future concubine, and if she showed any inappropriate feelings towards Li Mao, not only would she suffer, but she would also harm Li Mao.

Thinking it over, Ya Ru tried her best not to look at Li Mao, and slowly walked into the empty hall, preparing to perform her dance.

As the court musicians played their zithers, Ya Ru began to dance gracefully.

Although her movements were still a little clumsy, her graceful charm was innate. Every spin, leg lift, and hand wave was full of the naturalness and agility of the grassland, as well as the lightness and gentleness she learned from Jiang Caiyue, like a bird dancing gracefully, ready to ride the wind at any moment.

A look of amazement flashed in Li Heng's eyes.

Although he wasn't particularly interested in women in his daily life, his son took after him; like Li Longji, he preferred women with curvaceous figures and attractive figures. Li Mao said he would be satisfied after seeing Ya Ru, and he wasn't just talking nonsense.

At the same time, Li Longji nodded repeatedly, his face full of approval.

Li Mao could clearly see that the old man had developed lustful thoughts towards Ya Ru.

After the song ended, Ya Ru performed a standard Han Chinese etiquette.

She said in a clear, crisp voice, "Thank you for watching, Your Majesty and Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Longji clapped his hands and laughed, saying with satisfaction, "Indeed, a fine dance. However, I am somewhat curious whether you are equally skilled in other arts besides dancing, such as calligraphy and painting. If you are illiterate and only know how to dance, there is no such uncouth person among the imperial family's daughters-in-law."

Li Mao chimed in, "Father, you may not know this, but Princess Ya Ru is not only skilled in dance, but also quite talented in calligraphy and painting. I have seen her calligraphy and paintings before. Although her Chinese characters are not very well written, they are still quite elegant and refined."

Upon hearing this, Li Heng's eyes lit up. "In that case, why not have her demonstrate it for us again in person?"

His public persona is, after all, that of a gentle and refined person.

Originally, he felt that if Ya Ru only had the two merits of appearance and dancing, it would be a bit inconsistent with his image of being upright, honest and composed if he were to dote on her in the future.

Now things are great, if Ya Ru also knows calligraphy and painting...

Then he can use teaching Ya Ru the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting as an excuse to pamper her!

Under everyone's expectant gaze, Ya Ru had no choice but to sit down at the desk, pick up her brush, and quietly begin to paint on the rice paper. She chose a flower-and-bird painting, and she put her heart and soul into every stroke, striving to express her best self.

About half an hour later, the painting was finished.

This is her forte in calligraphy and painting. When she was learning from Jiang Caiyue, she practiced these the most. Although she can't say that she painted them very well, at least the birds look cute and the flowers and plants are delicate and soft, full of vitality.

The date and Wusun Yaru's name were written vertically next to it.

It's not great, but at least it's passable.

Li Heng was even happier. This person had great potential and could learn a lot from him in the future.

"Indeed, it seems that this time it has been quite a hardship for Eighteenth Brother. It is truly remarkable that a grassland woman who originally could not write and did not know etiquette could achieve such results." Li Heng finally gave Li Mao his approval.

This also proves that he will not refuse the marriage, but will happily accept this concubine.

Li Longji could only nod: "Then today I will bestow upon Princess Yaru the title of Crown Prince's concubine. The Crown Prince must treat her well from now on and must not let her suffer any injustice, lest it damage the harmony between our Great Tang and the grassland wolf tribe."

Actually, he was quite unhappy. If he had known that this woman was so well-educated by Li Mao, he would have kept her for himself.

In any case, marrying someone as a concubine is a form of marriage alliance.

If only I had known then what I know now!

Even now, after suffering a stroke and becoming increasingly weak, Li Longji is still thinking about women.

Upon hearing this, Ya Ru bowed again: "This humble servant is Ya Ru of Wusun, and thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."

"Alright, alright," Li Longji waved his hand, showing a hint of fatigue. "That's enough for today. You may all leave now. I will have someone draft the documents and choose an auspicious day for the Crown Prince to marry Princess Ya Ru. From today onwards, Ya Ru will live in the palace, waiting to be married into the Eastern Palace."

After everyone bowed and took their leave, Li Mao and Ya Ru left the main hall together.