"Hehehe, Second Prince, let's discuss this matter in detail later. First, please try Great Xia's wine and see if it suits your taste." Emperor Xia nodded with a smile, shooting a meaningful glance at Xia Yanran.
Her eyes instantly flashed with panic, mixed with a hint of humiliation.
How could she not see the lecherous intent in Qi Deqiang's gaze when he looked at her?
Moreover, from his tone, he clearly intended to use the alliance as leverage against her father.
But...
It was true that Xia Yanran disliked her current husband and resented her ancestor for inexplicably arranging this marriage.
However, she was, after all, a married woman. To marry another now—how would the entire Western Frontier view her?
As a covetous social climber?
A shameless and wanton woman?
The present Xia Yanran had long seen through worldly affairs and wished only to devote herself to the Dao.
Therefore, over these three years, not only had they never shared a bed, they hadn't even shared a room.
Born into an imperial family, a woman's marriage was always a tool of political strategy.
Xia Yanran understood this, but she still felt resentful.
Especially when her elder sisters, all married to crown princes or princes of other nations, would deliberately show off and make things difficult for her during their return visits, which filled Xia Yanran with indescribable frustration.
"Hehe, as Emperor Xia wishes. However... this prince has important matters to attend to and will depart Great Xia tomorrow. I hope Emperor Xia won't keep me waiting too long." Qi Deqiang smiled faintly, looking utterly confident.
He didn't believe Emperor Xia could fail to grasp his meaning.
As for Xia Yanran...
He already had thirteen consorts, yet none were as captivating as this woman.
Taking her back as a plaything wouldn't be a big deal.
"Yanran, come with me." Emperor Xia stood and walked towards the rear hall.
Xia Yanran's heart trembled, but in the end, she didn't dare refuse and followed him.
"Yanran, haven't you always been dissatisfied with your marriage?" The Emperor's face now lacked its previous authority, even showing a trace of paternal affection.
Beside him stood a beautiful woman in magnificent robes, with enchanting features and slender, slightly sharp eyes. This was Xia Yanran's birth mother, Consort Xu Huarong.
"Father, Yanran's heart is now set on the Dao. I do not crave worldly attachments and only hope to swiftly reach the Divine General realm to share your burdens." Xia Yanran's lovely face was cold as she bowed deeply.
Her implication was clear.
"Oh? Hehe, truly my good daughter. I am very pleased that Yanran has such aspirations. However, Yanran, your marriage was decided by the patriarch of our lineage. I suspect the patriarch must have had some vow with that senior Jiang Yu. But..." A cold glint suddenly flashed in Emperor Xia's eyes. "Now that you and Jiang Yu have been married for three years, the vow can be considered fulfilled. But that good-for-nothing has no talent, no background—how is he worthy of you? This marriage contract might as well be annulled."
"Father!!" Xia Yanran's beautiful eyes widened, her face filled with grief and indignation.
Although the Emperor's words sounded considerate on the surface, his true motive was clearly the alliance with Great Qi.
If she annulled her marriage and wed into Great Qi, forget status—she probably wouldn't even have her freedom.
Qi Deqiang was notorious throughout the Western Frontier for his extreme lechery.
Countless virtuous young women had been played to death by him.
It was said he had many strange perversions, and as the direct son of the Great Qi Empress...
Any woman he fancied met a tragic fate.
Jiang Yu might be useless, a coward, even mocked openly by the palace maids.
And yet, every time, he would only offer a gentle smile, ignoring the taunts!
Every day, he would personally prepare her medicinal baths. Some of the spiritual ingredients used were ones even Xia Yanran didn't recognize.
But, admittedly... ever since she started using the baths he prepared, her cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. In just three years, she had caught up to her elder brothers.
Of course, in Xia Yanran's understanding, she would never credit the medicinal baths.
She believed it was mostly due to her giving up frivolous pursuits these past three years and focusing solely on cultivation within the palace.
Xia Yanran looked down on Jiang Yu, but over these three years, she could sense that the good-for-nothing genuinely liked and cared for her.
But...
Whenever she asked about his origins, he would always dismiss it with "no family, no clan."
No family, no clan?
Did you... pop out of a crack in a rock?
And anyone connected to the Xia patriarch was certainly no ordinary cultivator.
Yet... Jiang Yu truly didn't possess a trace of spiritual power.
He hadn't left the palace half a step in three years; he really didn't seem like a man with secrets.
Huh?
Why am I suddenly thinking of him?
Who he is has nothing to do with me!
"Yanran? Yanran?" Xu Huarong gently nudged Xia Yanran's arm, a worried look between her brows.
"Father! I will not annul the marriage! Nor will I marry that Qi Deqiang. His character—you can't be unaware, Father? He's scum, a disgrace, I..." Slap!!
Before Xia Yanran could finish, Emperor Xia suddenly raised his hand and struck her hard across the face.
"Impudent! Do you think your marriage is yours to decide alone? Can you not see Great Xia's current situation?" Emperor Xia looked deeply at Xia Yanran, then turned and walked back towards the main hall.
"Consort Hua, I've recently received reports accusing you of privately accepting spiritual treasures and jewels from ministers. What, do you wish to sample the of the cold palace?"
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Slander! It's all slander!" Xu Huarong's face instantly paled. She knelt directly in the hall, weeping and wailing at the retreating figure.
She understood—this was the Emperor's warning.
If Xia Yanran obeyed, these 'transgressions' were nothing.
But if Xia Yanran disobeyed, her own fate would likely be worse than just the cold palace.
With Great Xia currently unstable, an alliance with Great Qi could secure the realm.
Trading one princess for an alliance with an imperial dynasty wasn't even a choice.
Especially a... already married, now useless princess.
"Yanran! Do you want to be the death of your mother?!" Xu Huarong knelt before Xia Yanran, tears and mucus streaming down her face.
"Mother, can you bear to see me branded a covetous, shameless wretch? That Qi Deqiang, so young, already has thirteen consorts. If I marry him..." Xia Yanran closed her eyes, tears streaming down.
Her fate seemed... to have never been in her own hands.
Jiang Yu, why couldn't you have been a crown prince, or the heir of an ancient sect? Then... no one would dare force me like this.
"Yanran!! But he is, after all, the Second Prince of Great Qi, the direct son of the Empress! Marrying him is still better than guarding that worthless Jiang Yu!!" What Xu Huarong cared about could never be Xia Yanran's happiness.
If Jiang Yu weren't so useless, would she need to privately accept treasures from ministers to supplement her needs?
Even the consorts of the various princes lived a hundred times more comfortably than she did.
How could this not make Xu Huarong jealous?!
"Mother!!"
"If you don't agree, I'll die right here in front of you today!! You can stay with Jiang Yu for the rest of your life!!" With that, Xu Huarong suddenly stood and rushed towards a stone pillar nearby.
She knew her daughter's temperament inside out.
Sure enough, the classic routine of tears, making a scene, and threatening suicide was still effective.
Xia Yanran flashed forward, catching her mother in her arms. Tears fell from her eyes, filled with despair.
"Mother, I agree! I'll agree, alright!"
"Yanran, you said it yourself! You can't go back on your word! When we return to the main hall later, you go sit beside the Second Prince of Qi. Communicate with him, build some rapport, and let your father see your willingness!" A smile tugged at Xu Huarong's lips. She stood up directly, pulling Xia Yanran along as she strode back towards the main hall.