She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Because the person in the portrait is not Zheng Lingyi, nor Jiang Ruining, but her biological daughter, Princess Rong'an!

"presumptuous!"

Choi Baek-hye's angry rebuke resounded throughout the hall first.

He wasn't rebuking Yelü Jing, or any of the Northern Liao people, but the Regent!

Because both he and the Empress Dowager knew very well that this must have been the Regent's doing!

Zheng Ling'an's tense anger relaxed, and he asked him in return, "Is the woman Crown Prince Yelü admires the noble lady in the portrait?"

Yelü Jing nodded firmly: "It's her, no doubt about it! A marriage alliance is for the sake of lasting diplomatic relations between our two countries. Only a woman who can win my favor is of the greatest value to the Great Zhou, isn't that right?"

"So no matter who she is, as long as I, the Crown Prince, don't mind, she is the princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty sent for a political marriage!"

Zheng Ling'an narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "May I ask if the person who told you this noble lady's name was present at the time?"

Yelü Jing seemed oblivious to the Empress Dowager's cold expression, and without hesitation pointed to a noblewoman at the banquet: "Her!"

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed.

It's Cui Jingwei.

The burned hair has been cut off, and the wig wrapped around the beautiful head looks particularly heavy and out of place.

Just as Cui Jingwei was annoyed that Yelü Jing was such a useless piece of trash, actually fearing the Regent's reputation, and was still relentlessly pursuing Jiang Ruining, she was caught off guard by being called out by name and suddenly froze.

Zheng Ling'an smiled, the curve of his lips as sharp as a knife.

very good!

It's the Cui family again!

Yelü Jing continued, "When I met her, the wind just lifted the veil on her hat! The lady was elegant and beautiful, and I fell in love at first sight."

"We Liao people were pleased and immediately proposed marriage. When we inquired about the young woman's life and address, it was she who answered us!"

Cui Jingwei was both shocked and furious, her chin trembling: "You're lying! I didn't! Rong An and I did go to Zhenwei Temple together, and we did encounter a few Liao people, but we didn't speak! We didn't!"

"Your Majesty, he's talking nonsense!"

The Empress Dowager knew, of course, that he was talking nonsense!

Rong An even went to Zhenweiguan because he was tricked into going!

Because she had sent someone to meet with the Northern Liao people long before they entered the area, and promised them benefits so that Yelü Jing could take Jiang Ruining away!

Yelü Jing sent a reply, indicating that he had agreed.

What does it mean that the person in his portrait has become Rong An at this moment?

This means he has secretly colluded with the Regent again and betrayed her!

"Crown Prince Yelü..."

"Who said it doesn't matter!" Yelü Jing waved his hand, interrupting the Empress Dowager. "What matters is that I, the Crown Prince, have already ascertained that Lady Zheng is unmarried and has no engagement!"

After saying that, he looked at the Zheng family.

His laughter was hearty, yet laced with a threat: "You loyal and important ministers of the court, you should prioritize the diplomatic relations between our two nations!"

Zheng Ling'an shook his head: "It's not that our Zheng family doesn't allow it, but the woman depicted in the portrait in your hand is not a daughter of our Zheng family."

Yelü Jing's face darkened, clearly indicating his disbelief.

Zheng Ling'an explained, "The Crown Prince Yelü fell in love with Princess Rong'an of the Great Zhou at first sight!"

Yelü Jinghu's piercing gaze swept over Cui Jingwei: "You dare to deceive this Crown Prince!"

Zheng Ling'an bowed respectfully and reassured him, "Crown Prince Yelü, there's no need to be angry. The Great Zhou only has one princess of marriageable age, Rong'an. Originally, she was going to marry into the Northern Liao. No matter how many twists and turns there are, it cannot stop your destined union with Rong'an. Doesn't that further prove that you two are a match made in heaven?"

Yelü Jing snorted coldly.

He then turned to look at the young emperor, his tiger-like eyes sharp.

"If the Great Zhou truly wishes to mend relations between the two nations, then I request that the Emperor of the Great Zhou immediately grant the marriage! Let Princess Rong'an become the Crown Princess of my Northern Liao!"

The Empress Dowager gripped the armrests of the throne tightly, her magnificent nail guards almost digging into them!

The coldness he tried so hard to suppress still crept in with his words: "The diplomatic relations between the two countries and the important matter of marriage can be discussed and planned slowly."

Zheng Ling'an was young, and his anger was accidentally revealed.

The Duke of Zheng will hold him down.

Even though the Zheng family is now of one mind with the Regent, the Empress Dowager is still in power and cannot be defied!

Xiao Che, however, had no such concerns. He casually lifted his eyelids, and the sharp glint in his phoenix eyes fell on the Empress Dowager's face: "When you mistakenly thought that Crown Prince Yelü had taken a liking to Lady Zheng, you were eager to finalize the marriage. Now that you hear that Crown Prince Yelü is going to marry Rong An, you should reconsider."

He smiled.

His words were cold and sarcastic.

"What does the Empress Dowager mean by this? Is she unwilling to send her own noble daughter to a marriage alliance, yet she takes it for granted that she can sacrifice the bloodlines of loyal and important officials?"

The Imperial Clan Court official frowned: "A princess of the Heavenly Family, enjoying a status and prestige unavailable to others, should sacrifice herself for the sake of the people and the common folk! If the Empress Dowager harbors such thoughts, who will be willing to serve the court and submit to the royal family in the future!"

"Besides, Rong'an is going to become the Crown Princess, enjoying the worship and offerings of the people of Northern Liao!"

Yelü Jing's anger followed immediately, becoming increasingly aggressive: "Does the Empress Dowager of the Great Zhou think that I, the Crown Prince, am not worthy to marry Princess Rong'an, and intend to casually dismiss me with the daughter of a subject?!"

The Empress Dowager naturally couldn't say she was reluctant to part with it!

Otherwise, her earlier argument that the Zheng family should consider the interests of the country would have become a joke!

If word gets out, how will the people outside see me?

Even though they are all ants, she needs their worship and admiration to secure her position as empress in the future. She needs the people's prestige even more!

Without moving, I did a breathing exercise.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the exit of the side hall.

She has a backup plan, no rush!

"Since Crown Prince Yelü has come with sincerity, I will naturally ensure you leave satisfied!"

Yelü Jing sneered, his voice sharp as a blade: "I am very satisfied with Princess Rong'an. She is also the only princess of suitable marriageable age. She should have accompanied me back to Northern Liao as a princess for a political marriage. Since that is the case, what is the Empress Dowager doing to delay?"

"Let's issue the imperial decree to grant the marriage now! As for the other details of the marriage, we can discuss them slowly after the transfer of ownership of the sixteen states is signed!"

With the Northern Liao holding the Sixteen Prefectures in its grasp, it was as if it were holding the Great Zhou by the throat.

If the Empress Dowager does not agree, she is treating the return of the territory as a joke!

Even with her intelligence and even with the cunning of Grand Tutor Cui, she could find no excuse to delay any longer.

The Empress Dowager paused for a moment and said, "Then please ask Crown Prince Yelü to wait in the side hall. I will speak with you privately." She then instructed the lady-in-waiting beside her, "Go and invite Princess Rong'an to come along."

Everyone knew that the Empress Dowager wanted to persuade Crown Prince Yelü to change the person, but royal matters were not for the ministers to interfere with.

They could only watch helplessly as the Empress Dowager took the person away.

Duke Zheng looked at the regent.

Seeing his relaxed and calm demeanor, I immediately felt at ease.

The people in the hall were discussing it animatedly.

It's speculated who the Empress Dowager will push onto this path of forced suicide.

The noblewoman guessed, "Since they've already set their sights on Zheng Lingyi, she'll definitely be the one sent to her death in Northern Liao!"

Lady B shook her head and analyzed, "It's hard to say! The Regent ruined the Empress Dowager's plan, so he's definitely being held a grudge. If he can really persuade Yelü Jing, then the one who should be pushed out as a sacrifice will be Princess Fu Ning!"

Noble Lady C disagreed: "Judging from the Regent's demeanor, he seems quite calm! He must be certain that the Empress Dowager can't harm Princess Fu Ning. Besides, Princess Fu Ning and Zheng Lingyi are such good friends, she'll definitely beg the Regent to protect her."

This guess is more reasonable, and everyone looked at each other and nodded frequently.

Then some people became nervous: "Then...aren't we unmarried ladies who were specially allowed to enter the palace in danger?"

brush!

The women's faces turned ashen.

"The Northern Liao barbarians are arrogant and ruthless. How could they tolerate their Crown Princess being of foreign blood? Once they survive the encirclement and suppression by other countries, they will definitely kill the princess sent for marriage. Whoever marries her will die!"

Just then.

A series of hurried footsteps reached the Empress Dowager's ears.

The palace maid hurriedly entered from the side hall, trying her best to hide her panic, but her staggering steps as she ascended the jade steps still betrayed the meaning that "something terrible has happened."

"Something's happened in the East Annex! Someone is committing filthy acts in the palace!"