newbobooks Chapter 473
Chapter 473
Chapter 473
"Your Majesty of Bei Yi, the mountains and rivers of Bei Yi are blessed with natural beauty and talent, and the women of Bei Yi are also renowned for their beauty and talent. I have long admired them. May I ask if I may also ask for the hand of a woman from Bei Yi? Although I already have a Crown Princess, the position of a concubine is vacant, and I will certainly not disgrace the noble ladies of Bei Yi. A marriage alliance between our two countries is mutually beneficial and more stable, and it would be a wonderful thing."
The emperor had heard beforehand that the Crown Prince of Western Qi had this intention and was prepared for it.
Currently, the princesses in the royal family are all still young and have not yet reached marriageable age. There is one princess of the second rank who is still unmarried, Princess De'an, who is the eldest daughter of Prince Jin.
Marrying Princess De'an to her would be appropriate in terms of status. Although she would only be a concubine of the Crown Prince of Western Qi, women from other ethnic groups sent for political marriages could not become the principal wife. Moreover, concubines were still to be listed in the imperial genealogy. When the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the concubine would be directly promoted to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort, second only to the Empress. It would not be considered an insult.
The emperor then said, "Since Western Qi has sent two princesses for marriage alliances, Northern Yi should reciprocate. I will recommend one for you, this Princess De'an, what do you think?"
Following the emperor's words, Princess De'an gracefully stepped out from the crowd and gave Huo Sizhen a shy bow.
Although Princess De'an was not as beautiful as the two princesses of Western Qi, she was still considered a pretty and delicate woman.
At this moment, she lowered her head shyly, her face flushed, and occasionally raised her eyes to secretly glance at Huo Sizhen.
Princess De'an already knew that the Crown Prince of Xiqi wanted to marry a noblewoman from Beiyi, and that she might be the one sent by Beiyi to Xiqi for a marriage alliance. She was initially very unwilling.
After all, what woman would willingly leave her homeland to marry into a foreign country thousands of miles away, especially one with hostile relations? Even if she were to become a noble consort in the future, there's nothing to look forward to.
But today, when she entered the palace and saw Crown Prince Huo Sizhen of Western Qi in person, Princess De'an felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
Most men and women in Bei Yi are rather delicate in appearance, and even military generals are not necessarily imposing and valiant. However, Princess De'an has a particular fondness for the purely masculine type and feels that most men in Bei Yi lack manliness.
Huo Sizhen was tall and imposing, with long arms and a slender waist. Just standing there, he exuded a strong masculine aura. With his extraordinary appearance and the status of Crown Prince of Western Qi, he perfectly fulfilled all of Princess De'an's fantasies about her dream lover.
In the Northern Yi Kingdom, these princesses generally married into noble families of equal social standing. To avoid suspicion, they were usually not allowed to marry powerful and influential officials, but instead married sons of respectable but not particularly powerful families.
She might as well marry someone she likes.
Princess De'an looked at Huo Sizhen with great joy and anticipation, her heart pounding.
But Huo Sizhen didn't even glance at her.
Huo Sizhen laughed and said, "Your Majesty Bei Yi flatters me. It is merely the position of a concubine. How could I dare to aspire to the status of a royal princess? I only wish to marry a noblewoman from a prominent family."
The emperor understood the implication in Huo Sizhen's words and asked, "Does the Crown Prince of Western Qi already have someone he prefers?"
A noblewoman from a prestigious family, she is indeed a level below a royal princess.
The emperor originally did not want to marry off royal women to Western Qi, so he was naturally happy to hear that Huo Sizhen's request was not high.
Huo Sizhen said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I have indeed long admired a noble lady. Although it is somewhat abrupt to bring this up, I still hope Your Majesty will grant my request."
Emperor: "Who do you want to marry?"
Huo Sizhen: "The third daughter of the Shen family, Lady Shen, wife of the Marquis of Yongning."