Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 731 Entering Liang Kingdom

"A marriage alliance?" Mu Wanqing said coldly.

"Yes, only through marriage can we persuade the Liang Kingdom to send troops to help us."

Zhong Ling said, "Then the three of us don't need to go together, do we?"

The Liang envoy believed that since the three girls had taken their mother's surname and had not been officially recognized, the king did not have any brotherly or sisterly affection for them. He argued that the three girls should be taken as hostages to demonstrate the king's sincerity.

Wang Yuyan asked, "Is it really necessary to take this step?"

"The Gao family has already planned to depose the emperor and install a new one. When that happens, the Dali Kingdom will inevitably be thrown into turmoil. The king is in great pain and dares not face the three young ladies. He has sent me to deliver this message. If the three young ladies are unwilling, please leave quickly to avoid being implicated in the future."

"Oh? Isn't Duan Lang in danger?"

Zhu Danchen said, "After all, the Gao family has to consider the people's hearts and will not poison the king immediately. After the abdication, the king will become a monk, and they will not take action for three to five years."

"If other powerful clans unite to resist the Gao clan during this period, the king will be in the most danger. At that time, not only the Gao clan, but also ambitious members of the Duan clan will try to assassinate the king. The Gao clan will then select a puppet from a collateral branch of the Duan clan and return power to the Duan clan to quell the internal strife among the various clans."

"Can't Duan Lang leave?" Mu Wanqing said.

“How can a king abandon his people? The Gao family is spreading rumors, slandering the king, and damaging his prestige. If the king were to flee, wouldn’t that be fulfilling the Gao family’s wishes? The king would rather die than run away.”

Wang Yuyan said, "Fourth Brother Zhu, no matter what, Duan Lang will not marry the three of us, right?"

Zhu Danchen nodded and said, "Yes. For the sake of Dali, the king must not bear the reputation of being a traitor."

"The fate of the Dali Kingdom rests on the shoulders of these three young ladies. The Liang Kingdom's envoy has conveyed that they will not send troops to help without a close relative of the king as a hostage."

After saying this, Zhu Danchen actually knelt down.

Upon seeing this, Zhong Ling, disregarding her tears, hurriedly pulled Zhu Danchen, saying, "Fourth Brother Zhu, what are you doing? Duan Lang... I... Fourth Brother Zhu, go back and tell my brother that I am willing to go to Liang Kingdom for a marriage alliance."

As she spoke, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

Wang Yuyan stepped forward and pulled Zhong Ling into her arms.

“Miss Zhong, you are too naive and kind. If you go to Liang, you will probably suffer.”

"Anyone who dares to make Sister Zhong Ling suffer and angers me will be shot dead with an arrow!" Mu Wanqing shouted.

"The three young ladies together can naturally help each other. However, the king is unwilling to force them, and are Miss Mu and Miss Wang also willing to form a marriage alliance for the sake of the Duan family?"

Wang Yuyan said, "My brother risked his life to save me, and I cannot abandon him. Going to Liang Kingdom for a marriage alliance is my way of repaying my brother."

Seeing Zhu Danchen looking at her, Mu Wanqing said angrily, "What are you looking at me for? If the two of them can arrange a marriage for Duan Lang, so can I."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Danchen quickly said, "On behalf of the King, the Duan family, and the people of Dali, I thank the three young ladies."

“The three ladies need not worry. This King of Liang is also a man of great talent, skilled in both literature and martial arts. He rose from humble beginnings to become the ruler of a country, and he will certainly not disgrace the three ladies.”

“The three young ladies are exceptionally talented and beautiful, and they will surely win the favor of the King of Liang. After the marriage, the King does not expect the three young ladies to do anything for the Duan family, but only hopes that the three young ladies can protect themselves.”

After leaving Yingfu Restaurant, Zhu Danchen immediately reported back to Duan Zhengyan.

After listening, Duan Zhengyan remained silent for a long time before saying to Zhu Danchen, "Fourth Brother Zhu, I deeply hate the Gao family. After the marriage alliance with Liang, I will definitely wipe out the Gao family."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Danchen quickly said, "Your Majesty, that's a matter for later. Right now, it's best to first establish a plan with the Liang Kingdom. Once we eliminate the Gao family's private army, Your Majesty can decide how to treat the Gao family."

"Brother Zhu, then you should go and meet this 'wise strategist' Wu Yong, and finalize a plan as soon as possible so that we can cooperate when the time comes." Over the next few days, both sides were eager to make it happen, and after some negotiation, they settled on the terms.

Wu Yong, carrying the terms agreed upon by both parties, quietly returned to the Liang Kingdom.

In the Dali Kingdom, Duan Zhengyan, as planned, grandly conferred the titles of princesses upon Zhong Ling, Mu Wanqing, and Wang Yuyan.

The happiest person about this was none other than Queen Gao Mei.

Seeing the three women looking distracted after being conferred titles, Gao Mei said to Duan Zhengyan, "Your Majesty, now that the three sisters have returned to their ancestral home, shouldn't they also change their surname back to Duan?"

Duan Zhengyan smiled and said, "Although I am of my father's blood, I never grew up in the palace. So I won't change my surname."

"It's not appropriate to have the surname Duan; it's not a good match for marriage. Even the outstanding young man from the Gao family wants to marry a princess!"

Duan Zhengyan shook his head. "The three of them are originally from the martial arts world, unlike the ladies of noble families. Now they are idle in the palace. After they are made princesses, I plan to let them leave the palace. I'm afraid I will never see them again in this life."

"Your Majesty, why do you suddenly want to release my three sisters from the palace?" Gao Mei asked.

Duan Zhengyan stared at Gao Mei and said, "Isn't this better?"

"Your Majesty, it is too restrictive for the three of them to stay in the palace. It would be better to let them out of the palace."

"Well, Mei'er, transfer a million strings of gold and jewels from the inner palace and let them take them. Consider it my dowry as their elder brother. Don't make a fuss about this; just pretend the three of them never came to Dali."

Gao Mei was delighted to hear this.

Gao Mei was aware of Duan Zhengyan's intention to place Zhong Ling and the other two in Yingfu Restaurant.

Gao Mei naturally knew about Duan Zhengyan's background.

His domineering presence in the palace, frequently punishing palace maids, was precisely to keep an eye on those three. Now, sending them out of the palace, never to be seen again, is the best arrangement.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will never wrong my three sisters. I will choose the best silks and satins."

Over the next two days, Gao Mei hurriedly prepared the gold and jewels, and watched as the three of them, along with their families, maids, and servants, entered the misty passage and disappeared before her eyes.

"You little bitch, I finally forced you out."

Unlike Gao Mei, who was overjoyed, Zhong Ling and the others were taken to Huaiyuan Post Station by soldiers sent by Wu Yong in advance after they came out of the misty passage.

After settling in, the three of them huddled together again.

Mu Wanqing still said coldly, "Are you two content with this?"

Zhong Ling frowned and said, "Sister Mu, what can we do now that things are like this?"

Wang Yuyan also said, "If we leave, I'm afraid Liang will immediately pass the news to the Gao family, and my brother will be doomed."

“Yes, Duan, brother is so cruel. He sent my adoptive father and mother to Liang Kingdom as well,” Zhong Ling said.

Wang Yuyan comforted her, "Dali is dangerous. Sending my sister's family here is to prevent any accidents from happening."

Mu Wanqing said, "Hmph, I think it's to reassure the three of us to stay."

(End of this chapter)