The number one spendthrift woman in the capital actually brings glory to her entire family?

And so, Lady Sikong successfully swindled a bottle of top-grade pain-relieving and bruise-reducing medicine—Ice Face Cream—from the stunningly beautiful and incomparably gorgeous Crown Prince of the Northern Empire. She then demanded that her new friend, the Crown Prince of the Northern Empire, personally apply the medicine to her, because she felt that the maids were all clumsy and poisonous. The moment their fingertips touched her bruised and swollen face, she couldn't wait to let out a shrill scream...

However, her good friend Di Beizun ignored her completely. Only after Lord Sikong had been calling for a long time, until Lord Sikong's throat was a little dry, did he casually ask Lord Sikong if he wanted some water.

Despite the pain coursing through his body, Lord Sikong weakly asked, "Are you sure this medicine is alright? Why does it hurt more and more as I apply it? My face is burning with excruciating pain!"

Under the tall bookshelf opposite, Di Beizun, who was holding a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other, finally turned his head slowly to look at Lord Sikong. As if he suddenly remembered something, he stared at the extremely ugly ointment on Lord Sikong's face for a long time, his gaze extremely strange, but his tone was very calm, "I forgot to tell you, this Ice Face Ointment is very potent. It needs to be diluted with water before use. Applying it directly will at least cause corrosion and scarring, and at worst, it will disfigure you."

Lady Sikong's eyes widened. The pain throughout her body almost made her collapse. With all her might, her eyes were filled with rage that seemed to spit fire. She pointed at Di Beizun with trembling hands and cursed, "Di Beizun, you despicable and shameless bastard who kicks someone when they're down! If I am disfigured, the first thing I will do is kill you!"

Then Lord Sikong rushed out, frantically searching the entire courtyard for water...

Finally, the wound was treated, and the sun was about to set. The Crown Prince of Dibei drank tea and read books all afternoon. Lady Sikong also drank tea and read about the Crown Prince of Dibei all afternoon. Of course, she would occasionally pretend to look down at the book in her hands, but her efficiency was very low, and she didn't finish a single page all afternoon.

"Crown Prince of the Northern Empire, would you consider us good friends?"

Lord Sikong asked again in a low voice. At this moment, her eyes were fixed on the book in front of her, and she was reading it very carefully.

Crown Prince Dibei raised his eyes and squinted at her, his gaze as deep as the sea. He already understood a bit of what was going on. However, he only glanced at her for a moment before continuing to read his book.

Seeing his silence, Lord Sikong continued, "Tomorrow is the birthday banquet of the Emperor of Dayong. You must know that this birthday banquet is not simple. In my opinion, the Emperor has probably chosen your Great Zhou as the marriage partner."

"how do you know?"

Emperor Beizun asked indifferently, without even raising his eyelids.

"Because King Lie may marry the princess of Tiansheng as his queen, the only dynasty that can accept a princess for marriage is your Great Zhou Dynasty!"

Sikong Jin suddenly remembered the analysis made by several high-ranking officials at the Duanwang Mansion that day, "Otherwise, Tiansheng would not have sent the Third Prince Tuoba Yu here. He came to discuss the marriage alliance with the Emperor of Dayong. The marriage partner is his younger sister, Tuoba Wulan, the Sixth Princess of Tiansheng. She is incredibly talented, stunningly beautiful, and as famous as Hua'er!"

"and then?"

"And then? Then I hope you can persuade the Emperor to change the bride to someone else, like Liu Xianxian from the Liu family. She's a first-rate beauty. Anyway, this woman is going to be married to your father anyway. As long as she's not too ugly and not Xing Fuhua, it'll be fine. Nobody believes this marriage can quell the war. As long as there's a desire to fight, there will always be an excuse. I think you've already breached the capital of Southern Liang, so invading Dayong is only a matter of time. If you help me out, maybe I'll even open the city gates for you and follow you in the future?"

……

"If the Emperor of Dayong heard what you said tonight, he could confiscate your property and exterminate your entire clan."

Di Beizun frowned and gave Sikong Jin a deep look. "What makes you think I will help you?"

"Because we're good friends! And, as you've seen, the princess loves me deeply too, and you're not some despicable and shameless person who forces others to do things against their will!"

Lord Sikong answered as if it were perfectly natural, without feeling it was abrupt at all.

Are we good friends?

Di Beizun sneered inwardly; this was indeed a good excuse.

……

The birthday of Emperor Da Yong is tomorrow. Late that night, Emperor Da Yong, Xing Qiyu, summoned his trusted general Zhu Yuan, the current prime minister, and Yang Hong, a famous strategist of the Da Yong Dynasty, to his study.

The Emperor Xing Qiyu of the Great Yong Dynasty before me, like Prince Xing Qitian of the Duan Dynasty, must have been a handsome man in his youth. With his upright and dignified features, sharp and imposing aura, and noble and magnanimous demeanor, he appeared to be only in his thirties. The deep and restrained look between his brows and his overall profile bore a slight resemblance to Prince Xing Qitian of the Duan Dynasty. The difference was that the Emperor of the Great Yong Dynasty had a pair of deep eyes that shone with a piercing light, while the smile on his face appeared quite peaceful.

Before the dragon throne, Emperor Da Yong leisurely took a sip of tea, raised his head and smiled at the elegant and wise Prime Minister Yang Hong beside him, "Tomorrow is my birthday banquet. We have all made a lot of efforts for this day. As long as things go smoothly... just wait and see the show."

"Your Majesty, a few days ago, the Prince invited Sikong Jin to a banquet at the Prince's residence. It is said that several officials were also present that day, and the Ninth Princess was also at the residence. In my humble opinion, they most likely discussed the marriage between Sikong Jin and the Ninth Princess..."

After pondering for a long time, Yang Hong finally spoke slowly, "Although the Ninth Princess can bring us many benefits if used well and skillfully, we must also guard against the possibility of things not going to happen. This old minister always felt that Prince Duan was not someone who would give in so easily."

Yang Hong expressed his concerns, sighed, and continued, "The forces in the court that support Prince Duan are not weak. Provoking him will not do us any good. Moreover, the Sikong family probably does not want to see this situation. Even if that old fellow Sikong Shu has no good feelings towards Sikong Jin, he cares a lot about the family's reputation. If we do this, it will undoubtedly be a slap in his face. I heard that the gifts that Sikong Jin sent to Prince Duan's residence a few days ago were all prepared by that old fellow."

Emperor Da Yong snorted and reassured him, "Left Prime Minister, there's no need to worry. I have my own plan. The Sikong clan and the Liu clan are sworn enemies. Letting them fight like dogs is a good idea. After I announce the marriage alliance tomorrow, I will immediately bestow the marriage upon Sikong Jin."

"Marriage?"

Zhu Yuan's small eyes, which resembled Zhu Si's, narrowed slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing within them.

Emperor Da Yong nodded and laughed heartily, "Tell me, if I were to bestow a marriage upon Sikong Jin and Liu Xianxian, how interesting would Sikong Shu and Liu Changyue's old faces be?"

"Wouldn't that plunge the world into chaos, Your Majesty?"

Zhu Yuan's eyes widened. Such a wicked trick...

It's no wonder that such a wise and enlightened ruler came up with this idea!

Suddenly, the group burst into loud, wild laughter.

"Report!"

Just then, an announcement came from outside.

"Enter!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty! A letter has been sent by the Crown Prince of the Northern Empire!"

The strongman knelt respectfully and presented the letter with both hands.

Crown Prince of the Northern Capital?

The group paused, their expressions suddenly turning grave...