Volume 1, Chapter 26: The True Heiress Is a Powerhouse 26
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Wu Miaomiao stood beside An Qianqian. Seeing that she was not nervous in the slightest, she could not help asking curiously, “Qianqian, aren’t you worried about him at all?”
“If he cannot even handle such a minor matter, what right does he have to be my husband?”
Wu Miaomiao was rendered speechless.
It did sound rather reasonable.
Beyond the screen, the five brothers and An Mingxia were still making things difficult for Si Chengnian in every possible way.
An Huan tuo said, “Do not think that merely because you are a prince, we will agree to let our sister marry you. The road is long and the journey arduous; we would never feel at ease. I advise you to be sensible and ask His Majesty to annul the betrothal.”
Si Chengnian replied, “My mother has ascended the throne as emperor.”
An Mingxia said, “And what of it? She is a woman. She will inevitably be bullied.”
“She has only one son—me.”
An Huanyan said, “A female emperor who seized the throne will have unstable foundations. We will never agree.”
“My mother has already taken command of my maternal grandfather’s five hundred thousand troops.”
An Huanqi said, “No. What if you mistreat Qianqian? The road is long and far. By the time we reached you, it would be too late.”
“When Qianqian goes to the Yan Kingdom, she will be the Crown Princess.”
An Huan-yang said, “No! We still do not agree! My sister is noble enough to marry a prince even in the Shang Kingdom.”
“My mother is the female emperor, and I am her only son.”
No matter what they said, Si Chengnian always returned to the same point.
His mother had successfully seized the throne, and he was her only child. Once he returned to the Yan Kingdom, he would inherit the imperial throne.
A Crown Princess consort whose future was uncertain, or a position as empress that was guaranteed—the choice now lay with the Duke of Rongguo’s household.
After several rounds, An Mingxia fell silent.
He drew Cheng Mingyue aside and asked about the Looking-Star Pavilion.
“The Looking-Star Pavilion also attended the family-recognition banquet, but Qianqian did not wish to attract attention, so no one noticed them. If we truly agree to let Qianqian go to the Yan Kingdom, will the Looking-Star Pavilion be able to protect her?”
Cheng Mingyue was still wiping away her tears. She sobbed, “Even if they can protect her, what does it matter? I went through so much to find my daughter again, and now she is going to leave me just like that. How many times will I even be able to see her in the future?”
Seeing her shoulders tremble with sobs, An Mingxia knitted his brows and drew her into his arms.
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“Why are you crying? Our daughter is not going to her death.”
Cheng Mingyue struck him once, tears streaming even more fiercely. “You make it sound so simple! The Yan Kingdom has only just changed rulers, and the court is bound to be in turmoil. She will be entering that place as a new bride. What if something happens to her? How am I supposed to go on living?”
“There will be no ‘what if.’”
An Mingxia interrupted her. His fingertips brushed over the corners of her reddened eyes as he comforted her. “Qianqian is not the sort of person who allows herself to be wronged. Besides, Si Chengnian was right. His mother is the female emperor, and he is her only son. Once Qianqian goes there, she will unquestionably be the Crown Princess, and one day she will become empress. With such a status, no one will dare bully her.”
He paused, his tone softening. “Do you think I am willing to part with her? But the imperial edict has already been issued. An emperor’s word cannot be taken back. If we defy the edict, our entire household will be sentenced to death. The Looking-Star Pavilion’s influence extends throughout the realm. At the family-recognition banquet, one of its elders personally saluted Qianqian, which shows how extraordinary her position within the pavilion is. If she truly encounters trouble in the Yan Kingdom, the Looking-Star Pavilion will never stand by and do nothing.”
Cheng Mingyue raised her tearful face. “But…but I simply cannot bear to part with her…”
“I understand.”
An Mingxia sighed before continuing, “I have already made arrangements. Tomorrow, I will submit a request to the Ministry of War and have three hundred Black-Armored Guards assigned as Qianqian’s escort. I personally trained these men. Every one of them is worth ten ordinary soldiers, and their loyalty is beyond question. Once they accompany Qianqian to the Yan Kingdom, they will guard her without leaving her side. If anyone dares touch even a single strand of her hair, they will first have to ask whether the blades of the Black-Armored Guards consent.”
He continued, “Furthermore, I have already entrusted someone to purchase a residence in the Yan Kingdom’s capital. It is only three streets from the imperial palace. I will send the steward there with a hundred maids and guards to prepare everything in advance. All food, clothing, and daily necessities will be arranged according to the standards of the Duke’s residence. I guarantee that Qianqian will remain just as accustomed to having the final say once she arrives there.”
Listening to these meticulous arrangements, Cheng Mingyue’s tears gradually stopped.
She knew that her husband had always been steady and thorough. Since he had considered every possibility, he must truly have made all the necessary preparations.
“But…that boy Si Chengnian—can he really protect Qianqian?” she asked, still uneasy.
“He will protect her, even if he cannot.”
A sharp glint flashed through An Mingxia’s eyes. “I have already had him investigated. During all these years as a hostage in the capital, Si Chengnian appeared mild and gentle, but in truth his methods were ruthless. To emerge unscathed from the struggles among the princes, he must be far from ordinary. Since he dared to ask for Qianqian’s hand, he ought to know that a daughter of the Duke of Rongguo is not someone to be trifled with. He should also understand that if Qianqian suffers even the slightest grievance, I, An Mingxia, will flatten the Yan Kingdom’s imperial palace even if it costs me my old bones.”
He placed a hand on Cheng Mingyue’s shoulder and looked toward the leisurely figure behind the screen. “Besides, do you really think Qianqian is so easy to manipulate? She did not object to the imperial edict just now, which means she is willing to accept this marriage. She has probably already made her own calculations. As her parents, all we can do is pave the road for her. The rest is for her to venture forth and handle herself.”
Cheng Mingyue looked into her husband’s resolute eyes, sniffed, and said reproachfully, “I will do as you say.”
The couple returned to the main hall. An Mingxia cleared his throat. “Very well. The marriage is settled.”
At his words, Si Chengnian’s rigid back relaxed at once. The composure in his eyes was swept away by uncontrollable delight.
Although he had appeared calm just moments ago, he had been intensely nervous, terrified that the Duke of Rongguo’s household would truly defy the imperial edict.
If that happened, he would have no choice but to return as quickly as possible, ascend the throne, and then come back to the Shang Kingdom to ask for Qianqian’s hand.
But at least half a year would pass in between. If Qianqian changed her mind during that time, he would never dare stake everything on chance.
“Father-in-law, your sense of justice is truly admirable. Chengnian is deeply grateful. In this life, I will protect Qianqian with my life. Should anything happen to her, I will submit myself to whatever punishment the Duke’s household sees fit.”
“Who gave you permission to call me Father-in-law?” An Huan tuo snorted stiffly, though he no longer glared at him as fiercely as before.
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Si Chengnian was not offended. He merely raised his head toward An Mingxia, unmistakable urgency in his voice. “May I ask when the wedding date will be set? The situation in the Yan Kingdom has only just stabilized, and my mother still needs me to return as soon as possible to secure the court. If I can set out with Qianqian at an early date, she will be able to familiarize herself with everything in the Yan Kingdom sooner.”
An Mingxia frowned slightly. “How can a wedding be arranged in such haste? At least three months are needed. Ten miles of bridal finery, the dowry inventory—every detail must be carefully prepared.”
“Father-in-law, there is no need to hurry with the dowry.”
Si Chengnian immediately took up the matter. His gaze shifted toward the screen, as though he were speaking to An Qianqian. “I will first take Qianqian back to meet my mother. Once the affairs of the court have been settled, I will send a ceremonial procession to collect the dowry. As for the wedding ceremony, I will hold another one in the Yan Kingdom according to the rites befitting the Crown Princess. I will make certain that everyone under heaven knows she is the only wife of Si Chengnian.”
He paused before adding, “What about three days from now? I will return to my residence today and arrange the journey. I will have the escort clear a safe road ahead of us, ensuring that Qianqian suffers no jolting along the way.”
An Mingxia was still hesitating when An Qianqian’s unhurried voice suddenly came from behind the screen.
“Three days from now, then. It is better not to let matters drag on and invite complications.”
The moment she spoke, the entire hall fell silent.
An Mingxia glanced at his wife’s reddened eyes and finally sighed. “Very well. Matters between young people should be decided by the young people themselves. But during these three days, Qianqian must remain at home. I still have some things to tell her.”
“Of course.”
Si Chengnian answered readily, the smile in his eyes nearly overflowing. “I will return at once to make the preparations. Three days from now, I will personally come to the residence first thing in the morning to receive Qianqian.”
With that, he gave Cheng Mingyue a slight nod as a gesture of respect toward an elder, then turned and left.
By the time he reached the entrance, his steps were so light and quick that they scarcely seemed his own. Even the hems of his fluttering robes appeared to carry a hint of delight.
An Huan-yang watched his retreating figure and curled his lips. “Look how anxious he is. You would think he was afraid we might change our minds.”
An Mingxia did not respond. He merely looked toward the screen. “Qianqian, come with me to the study.”
A soft response came from behind the screen. An Qianqian emerged at an unhurried pace, but as she passed Cheng Mingyue, her mother reached out and seized her hand.
Cheng Mingyue’s eyes reddened again. “You are leaving in three days? That is far too soon…”
“Sooner or later makes no difference.”
An Qianqian patted her hand, her voice as level as ever. “If you miss me, Mother, have my brothers escort you to the Yan Kingdom to stay for a while.”
Her lighthearted remark left Cheng Mingyue unable to reply. She could only watch her daughter follow An Mingxia toward the study and quietly wipe away her tears.
Meanwhile, Si Chengnian had barely stepped through the gates of his residence when he ordered his personal guards in a deep voice, “Pass on my command. Prepare the full ceremonial procession at once, and arrange everything needed for the journey according to the standards for the Crown Princess. Three days from now, at first light, go to the Duke of Rongguo’s residence and bring her here. In addition, send a fast courier to the Yan Kingdom immediately and inform my mother that I will be returning with the Crown Princess. Tell her to prepare the welcoming rites.”