Princess Longzhu only made her appearance after nearly all the other guests had arrived.

She took off her wide cloak, revealing a slender figure. Her red skirt was embroidered with golden thread in the pattern of Xiliang’s most famous Moonflowers, and a shimmering golden chain was wrapped around her waist.

Unlike the women of Great Zhou, she did not style her hair into a complex coiffure.

Her long, wavy, deep-brown hair cascaded down her back, with a chain of golden beads woven through it. A brilliant red ruby dangled between her eyebrows.

This, combined with her deep-set features and jade-green eyes...

...created an exotic and alluring charm.

Hua Manman had to admit that she was indeed a rare beauty.

No wonder she was called the Desert Pearl.

She whispered to the man beside her.

"I think Princess Longzhu is quite pretty."

Li Ji had only glanced at Princess Longzhu the moment she appeared, paying her no mind afterward.

He replied nonchalantly, "Don’t you think she looks like a ghost?"

Hua Manman froze.

Li Ji continued, "Look at her snow-white face, her blood-red lips, and those ghastly green eyes..."

Hua Manman clapped her hands over her ears.

’No, stop! I’m getting a mental image!’

A perfectly beautiful woman had been transformed into a sinister specter by Prince Zhao’s description.

It dealt a huge blow to Hua Manman’s fragile little psyche.

As a result, she hardly dared to look at Princess Longzhu’s face for the rest of the evening.

The Xiliang Delegation first presented several treasures they had brought, then showered the Great Zhou with elaborate praise, and finally, made their request for a marriage alliance.

The Emperor, long prepared for this, was not surprised. He asked with a smile.

"And who might be the lucky man to win Princess Longzhu’s heart?"

At these words, both the Second Prince, Li Hao, and the Fifth Prince, Li Yan, pricked up their ears. They stared at Princess Longzhu without blinking, their hearts pounding with anxiety.

Neither of the brothers was married yet, and given their status, they were a perfect match for Princess Longzhu.

But in truth, neither of them wanted to marry this Desert Pearl.

This was because of an unwritten rule in the Great Zhou Dynasty—

the Empress proper could not be a foreign woman.

If they were to marry Princess Longzhu as their main wife, it would mean they had no chance of inheriting the throne.

No matter how beautiful Princess Longzhu was, she couldn’t compare to the right of succession.

Right now, both Li Hao and Li Yan were on pins and needles, silently praying that they wouldn’t be the one Princess Longzhu had her eye on.

Li Yan was even prepared to push the Fourth Prince, Li Ying, forward if Princess Longzhu insisted on marrying a prince.

After all, the Fourth Prince had never been favored and had no chance of inheriting the throne, which made him the perfect candidate for something like this.

Li Ying had no idea someone was plotting to use him.

He was currently looking at Hua Manman.

He hadn’t seen her in a while, but she looked almost unchanged—still as charming and cute as ever.

The Xiliang Delegation had already discussed the marriage alliance amongst themselves in private.

Their original choice had been the Emperor; they wanted Princess Longzhu to enter the palace as one of his concubines.

But Princess Longzhu had suddenly changed her mind.

She declared that she had taken a liking to Prince Zhao of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

She wanted to marry Prince Zhao.

The Xiliang Delegation’s attempts to persuade her were futile, and they were all rather worried.

Prince Zhao was already married. If Princess Longzhu wanted to marry him, she would have to tear the couple apart.

If this wasn’t handled well, not only would the alliance fail, but they might even make an enemy.

However, Princess Longzhu had made up her mind. The members of the Xiliang Delegation could do nothing but go along with her wishes.

Now, facing the Emperor of Great Zhou’s question, Princess Longzhu’s cheeks flushed slightly as if in shyness, but her voice was crisp and clear, loud enough for everyone present to hear distinctly.

"In response to Your Majesty, I wish to marry Prince Zhao."

As soon as she said this, everyone’s gaze snapped to Prince Zhao in unison.

Even Hua Manman looked at the man beside her.

But Li Ji, the man in question, had a flat reaction.

He replied without a second thought.

"But I don’t want to marry you."

It was blunt and decisive, giving her absolutely no face.

Princess Longzhu was thoroughly choked by his words, her pretty face instantly flushing beet red.

Before, it was from shyness; now, it was purely from anger.

The members of the Xiliang Delegation all looked displeased.

They felt that Prince Zhao was deliberately humiliating them.

The Second Prince, Li Hao, frowned, seemingly perplexed.

The Fourth Prince, Li Ying, was still looking at Hua Manman, his gaze heavy and unreadable.

The Fifth Prince, Li Yan, however, wore a gloating expression, clearly eager to watch the drama unfold.

The Sixth Prince, Li Yi, seemed about to say something, but was stopped by the Lady beside him.

This had nothing to do with them. It was best to just watch the show and not get foolishly involved.

The Emperor, as if oblivious to the strange atmosphere at the banquet, smiled as if nothing was amiss and said,

"Princess Longzhu, you may not be aware, but Prince Zhao is already married." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

No matter how foolish Princess Longzhu might be, she couldn’t possibly say something like "have Prince Zhao divorce his wife and marry me" in front of so many people.

She put on a playfully innocent act and mumbled,

"Don’t men in the Great Zhou Dynasty take three wives and four concubines? I don’t mind being Prince Zhao’s co-wife."

Immediately after, she heard Prince Zhao speak, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Truly worthy of a Xiliang person, to say something as unseemly as ’co-wife’."

With that one simple sentence, he infuriated every Xiliang person present.

The members of the Xiliang Delegation glared at him furiously.

Their leader shot to his feet, angry, and shouted in broken Great Zhou dialect,

"Prince Zhao, take back what you just said!"

Li Ji gave a lazy laugh, completely disregarding the man’s fury.

"My word is my bond. I never take back what I’ve said."

The man turned his head to the Emperor and began to complain in front of everyone.

"Your Majesty, are you just going to stand by and watch Prince Zhao deliberately humiliate us West Liang people?"

The Emperor looked at Prince Zhao with utter helplessness.

"That’s enough out of you."

Li Ji shut his mouth and said no more.

The members of the Xiliang Delegation stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

’That’s it?’

’Isn’t the Emperor going to reprimand Prince Zhao at all?’

’This is blatant favoritism!’

In contrast, the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty seemed much calmer.

They had long grown accustomed to the Emperor’s flagrant favoritism.

As if he hadn’t noticed the Xiliang Delegation’s dissatisfaction, the Emperor said gently,

"We are honored by Princess Longzhu’s affection, but alas, Prince Zhao is not fated to receive it. Why don’t you choose another fine husband?

Our Great Zhou Dynasty is full of talented men. There are plenty who would be worthy of Princess Longzhu."

Princess Longzhu had been rejected in public by Prince Zhao, and his rejection had been so cold and merciless that she was left with no face at all.

Furious and humiliated, she was in no mood to choose another husband.

She bit her lower lip and said sullenly,

"I’ll have to think about it."

The Emperor was very magnanimous. "This is a major life decision. You should indeed think it over carefully."