CHAPTER 1304: CHAPTER 1305: WHO TO SEND AS A BRIDE

Jin Zijin: "..."

He shot Yue Rujing a cold glare, and only then did Yue Rujing shut his mouth.

The Sixth Prince of Nanzhao, twenty years old, was the Nanzhao Emperor’s favorite son. He expressed willingness to have the Sixth Prince demote his lesser-status legitimate wife, so that the Duchy of Zhuzhao could marry in as his rightful consort.

Among the Nanzhao Emperor’s sons, these were the two with slightly better credentials, and their ages were not too far from the Princess’s.

The remaining candidates were young men from the Imperial Family, but their status and rank were lower than the Emperor’s sons—whether Jin Zijin found them acceptable was up to him.

"First Prince, how do these young men of Nanzhao strike you?"

Jin Zijin’s sharp gaze swept over the young men seated across from him, one by one, finally landing on a young man who seemed indifferent, quietly sipping his tea.

The Nanzhao Emperor followed Jin Zijin’s gaze and chuckled, "He is not from the younger generation—he’s my fifteenth brother. Eighteen years old, still unmarried."

Jin Zijin narrowed his eyes at him. Eighteen years old—so when the Nanzhao Emperor ascended the throne fifteen years ago, the old Emperor had died when this boy was just three?

Every nation’s transition of imperial power inevitably sparked a tempest of bloodshed and treachery. Nanzhao Country was no exception; much like Zhuzhao Country, after the Nanzhao Emperor took the throne, his siblings met various fates—some died, some were suppressed; those still alive were few and in dire circumstances.

This Fifteenth Prince must be an exception, having earned the Emperor’s favor to be invited to participate in the selection process.

He was considered fortunate; at three years old, unaware of the stakes, he had escaped the raging fires of power struggles.

Jin Zijin cupped his hands toward the Nanzhao Emperor and said, "I, Zijin, wish to have words with the Fifteenth Prince."

"Alright, of course, I shall arrange that immediately."

The Nanzhao Emperor internally sighed in relief. To him, securing a marital alliance with a major power like Zhuzhao Country was undoubtedly advantageous. However, determining which Prince the Zhuzhao Princess would marry presented a dilemma. No matter who she wed, that Prince would gain prominence, which could potentially destabilize Zhuzhao’s imperial authority. Therefore, his greatest hope was for Jin Zijin to favor a non-aligned, leisure-loving Prince.

The Fifteenth Brother suited this role perfectly.

Jin Zijin and the Fifteenth Prince were escorted to the Imperial Garden for a casual conversation, while elsewhere, the Nanzhao Emperor cheerfully engaged Yue Rujing and Jie Zhonglin in inquiries about the Princes of Zhuzhao.

Zhuzhao Country, however, no longer had any Princes. Thus, the responsibility for this marital alliance fell on the shoulders of its royal sons.

The Nanzhao Emperor remarked that he found the First Prince quite suitable—though already married, their smaller nation’s princesses and commandery princesses wouldn’t mind taking a lesser position. Just moments ago, Jin Zijin hadn’t been able to say this directly, so the Emperor specifically sought Yue Rujing and Jie Zhonglin’s opinions.

Yue Rujing shook his head like a rattling drum and said, "Your Majesty, you’d better give up that idea. My senior brother is the type to lead a clean and simple life. Just one marriage is enough for him to fret over—any more and he’s guaranteed to lose his mind."

"Ah?" The Nanzhao Emperor exclaimed, "Are you saying the First Prince is disinterested in women?"

"Yes, that’s exactly what I mean."

"Then..." He didn’t know what to say after that. To their kind of man—those who believed the more women, the merrier, and aimed for no repeats night after night—not being interested in women was incomprehensible. If he hadn’t heard that the First Prince had at least taken a wife and fathered a son, he might have suspected the man had physical issues.

"In Yue Shizi’s view, then, who would Zhuzhao Country send for the alliance?"

Yue Rujing jerked his chin toward Jie Zhonglin and said, "What’s the Emperor thinking? Did he tell you who’s been chosen for the alliance?"