kvmb Chapter 274 Marriage
Chapter 274 Marriage
The marriage was agreed upon, but because it involved princes and empresses from two different countries, it had to be a political alliance. It couldn't just be a marriage held in any one country. To avoid giving the impression of a son-in-law marrying into the family, the marriage certificate and betrothal gifts would be sent from the Great Xia, and the dowry would be sent back from the Southern Frontier. A mansion would be built in the capital of the Great Xia specifically for the couple to return home. Even if it remained empty, it signified that Prince Dong Nanxi had truly married the Empress of the Southern Frontier to the Great Xia.
As regent, Gu Mochen had to return personally to complete this task. He took Dong Nanxi to the capital of Great Xia and delivered the letter to the emperor beforehand. The atmosphere in the Great Xia court was heavy. The emperor frowned, clutching an urgent report from the Southern Frontier. It stated that the King of Southern Frontier had passed the throne to his eldest daughter, Duan Ling'er, and intended to marry her to the Prince of Xi, to jointly govern the Southern Frontier. At this moment, Prime Minister Lin Yuan stepped forward and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the Southern Frontier has developed rapidly in recent years, and its military strength should not be underestimated. Becoming in-laws is certainly a good thing, but the Prince of Xi's marriage is like a son-in-law's, which is not very honorable." The emperor raised his eyes, his gaze revealing contemplation: "What you say is very true, but I wonder if it can be resolved?" Lin Yuan bowed slightly and slowly said, "Your Majesty, marriage is a matter of course. Why don't we, Great Xia, issue a marriage certificate, allowing the Queen of Southern Frontier to marry a prince of Great Xia, and then the Prince of Xi can go to the Southern Frontier to live with her?"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor fell into deep thought. He was well aware of the pros and cons of political marriage. On the one hand, it was indeed an excellent way to foster friendship between the two countries; on the other hand, he worried that Dong Nanxi would sacrifice her own happiness as a result. For the sake of national stability and the peace of the people, making Dong Nanxi a son-in-law was a good idea, but it sounded rather inappropriate. Moreover, Dong Nanxi was an exceptionally talented individual, and if she were to help the Southern Frontier invade the Great Xia, it would be very dangerous. Even knowing that Ye Qingchen was also a princess of the Southern Frontier, she ultimately did not hold power. Therefore, the Emperor was indeed in a dilemma. However, if this relationship were managed well, he would not have to worry about relations with the Southern Frontier in the future.
Dong Nanxi, having later learned martial arts, developed striking features and a commanding presence. Despite being a prince, his early experiences prevented him from displaying any arrogance or haughtiness; instead, he cared deeply for the people and had the world at heart. When he learned of the emperor's intentions, his heart was filled with turmoil. He had never imagined his marriage would be so closely intertwined with the nation's political interests, but he knew full well that this wedding was also a political alliance.
Thus, the Great Xia Dynasty began preparations for issuing the marriage certificate and sending the betrothal gifts. The Minister of Rites personally selected an exquisite marriage certificate, embroidered with gold and silver threads, expressing the Great Xia Dynasty's best wishes for the Southern Frontier and its sincerity in the marriage alliance. The betrothal gifts were even more lavish, including rare silks, exquisite porcelain, precious medicinal herbs, and various rare treasures, filling dozens of carriages. The grand wedding procession set off for the Southern Frontier. These betrothal gifts were even more abundant than those prepared by Gu Mochen when he married Ye Qingchen. Ye Qingchen had also asked Gu Mochen to prepare a separate gift for Dong Nanxi, as the Southern Frontier lacked nothing, but it was still necessary to give Dong Nanxi some security so that he wouldn't suffer mistreatment in the future.
Meanwhile, in the Southern Frontier Palace, the Southern Frontier Empress was discussing this matter with her ministers. She harbored mixed feelings about this political marriage. Though an empress, she also longed for genuine love. However, she understood that this marriage concerned the future of Southern Frontier. She truly loved Dong Nanxi, but she had thrust him into the limelight, condemning him to the label of a son-in-law who would never escape marriage. But Dong Nanxi remained silent, and Ye Qingchen's presence gave her some confidence. Subsequently, Southern Frontier began preparing the dowry. The dowry was unique, featuring Southern Frontier spices, mysterious insects, exquisite embroidery, various rare and exotic animals, and a dazzling array of gold and silver jewels.
Finally, on a bright, cloudless day, Dong Nanxi led her grand wedding procession, having endured a long and arduous journey, and slowly arrived in the mysterious and exotic land of Southern Xinjiang. At this time, Southern Xinjiang was filled with a festive atmosphere. The streets were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and people flocked to the streets, eager to witness this grand wedding scene. Inside the palace, the atmosphere was even more lively.
Duan Ling'er wore an incomparably magnificent phoenix robe, embroidered with gold and silver threads, the phoenix patterns on it lifelike, as if ready to take flight at any moment. She wore an exquisite phoenix crown and embroidered robe, adorned with dazzling jewels that shone brilliantly. Seated regally in the palace hall, she resembled a blooming peony, exquisitely beautiful, dignified, and noble.
The moment Dong Nanxi stepped through the palace gates and caught sight of Duan Ling'er in the distance, his heart skipped a beat. The woman before him was breathtakingly beautiful; her beauty lay not only in her physical appearance but also in the dignified aura she exuded from within. Every gesture she made radiated a unique charm that was irresistible.
Looking at Duan Ling'er, Dong Nanxi couldn't help but think of Ye Qingchen. They both possessed stunning beauty, but Duan Ling'er had her own unique charm. Ye Qingchen was as gentle and graceful as a spring breeze, while Duan Ling'er was as passionate and unrestrained as the summer sun; Ye Qingchen's beauty was like a clear mountain spring, soothing and refreshing, while Duan Ling'er's beauty was like a blazing fire, fiery and dazzling.
Duan Ling'er, upon seeing Dong Nanxi, secretly admired his bearing and demeanor. He resembled Gu Mochen somewhat, but without his frail appearance. Dong Nanxi seemed more radiant, and his literary talent was exceptional, unmatched by most. Even Gu Mochen would likely struggle to surpass him in literature. This time, Dong Nanxi no longer called himself Dong Nanxi. The Emperor had previously acknowledged his identity; he was Gu Nanxi, promoted to Prince Xi before coming here, a much higher rank than his father, Prince Yi. Dong Nanxi served as the son-in-law of the Southern Frontier while remaining a prince in the court—this was the Emperor of Great Xia's requirement: his nephew was not a son-in-law living in the family.
Duan Ling'er held her wedding in Southern Xinjiang, a celebration that swept the nation. King Duan Yuanshan of Southern Xinjiang and Yun Sheng, Ye Qingchen's mother, attended the grand ceremony with Gu Mochen and Ye Qingchen. The customs of Southern Xinjiang and Great Xia differed, as did their clothing. However, to harmonize the two cultures, Ye Qingchen specially designed unique attire for the couple, seamlessly blending Great Xia and Southern Xinjiang styles. Ye Qingchen's embroidery skills were remarkable; she completed all the wedding attire in just five days, astonishing everyone. It was then that people realized the rare and precious screen circulating among the common people was actually Princess Qingchen's work. Consequently, ministers from Southern Xinjiang flocked to request embroidered pieces. Ye Qingchen didn't grant all requests, instead embroidering ten screens for auction. This required a strategy of scarcity marketing, with the proceeds going towards enriching the national treasury for her sister, Duan Ling'er, in her future rule.