Forced to Marry the Enemy Prince

Translator – Xiao He Lian

Chapter 72

According to the rules, the state of Jin, the emperor should receive the wind and wash the dust1(t/n to receive the wind and wash the dust — to treat sb. to a dinner on arriving;) for the Crown prince Xian Shang.

As the link to the marriage, Xiang sheng should naturally also go to the banquet.

This is the second time he showed up in public, because there were South Liang people and there was no need for the queen to say much. Ruyi dressed him up seriously, and the purpose was also to reassure the South Liang’s family.

Zhan Zhen ran to the barracks in the morning, and when he came back, he (ZZ) found that he(XS) was wearing a light crown and a fancy dress.

The people of South Liang are extremely extravagant, but the extravagance is in the details, like the pearls falling all over the dress or the real gold beads.

Unlike the rough styles of the North, the gorgeous South Liang costumes are gorgeous but not showy. Even if they are worn by ordinary people, they can clearly feel that the texture is completely different.

This is Xian Sheng’s dowry. Regardless of the art, the material, or the slightly restrained aesthetic style are full of Liang style and Zhan Zhen held his breath.

“…does it look good?”

“It’s okay.” Xian Sheng looked down and pondered: “The queen didn’t give me clothes this time, letting me wear whatever I want. But when the two countries meet, I must wear some clothes that fit my status and sit by your side, it also shows the friendship between the two countries.”

He pointed to the crown on his head: “This is a gift from your mother. I used it to match my clothes, do you think it’s good?”

Although the crown was light but beautiful, it was probably the only low-key thing the queen sent, but it was only compared to the others. After Zhan Zhen saw it clearly, he suddenly frowned and said, “Why is life so stressful.”

Xian sheng gently laughed.

As the king of the state, even if the emperor of Jin wanted to entertain the crown prince, he must make the final appearance, so Zhan Zhen had to arrive in advance to entertain his peers.

He usually dresses lightly and can’t get used to the big sleeves and robes, but today he suddenly ordered people to get the court robes, took off the light headpiece and prepared to change.

When Xian Sheng saw this, tenderness appeared in his eyes, and he walked over to help him put on the clothes, carefully fastened the buttons and whispered: “Husband looks great in this way too.”

Zhan Zhen was pleased. As a prince of the upper court he had to wear court clothes according to the regulations. He was afraid to make trouble. He wore armor and light helmets and came and went like wind every day. When a brother raised dissatisfaction, Emperor Jin shunned the issue.

Zhan Zhen looked down at him, thinking he (XS )didn’t understand his heart and said: “I’m doing this for you”

Xian Sheng smiled and rewarded him with a kiss, bashing him: “still talking without restraint.”

He always needs to tell what he does for Xian Sheng for fear that Xian Sheng will not find his good.

Fortunately, this crown is not like the day when the ancestor was sacrificed. That crown is kind of funny because it must be tied under the chin. Xian Sheng also learned later that the meaning of that crown is to restrain the children and grandchildren, meaning that the children and grandchildren should obey the elders, unless he became the king of the country.

That day, Zhan Zhen was uncomfortable like a bound shrimp.

The head crown he is wearing today is not that excessive. Xian Sheng carefully put the cord hanging on both sides behind his ears. He (XS) felt that he (ZZ) looks more like a gentleman. When wearing bid robes and wide sleeves, he gives off a bookish vibe. 2This picture might give you a basic idea of the crown that Zhan Zhen is wearing for the occasion

As soon as he finished thinking about it, Zhan Zhen suddenly hugged him, opened his mouth and gnawed at him and nibbled the lipstick on his lips. 

Xian Sheng struggled, but he (ZZ) still had a good time with his arms around him.

To his gentlemanly demeanor, Zhan Zhen, even if he is inlaid with gold and silver and his appearance is exquisite, he is still a beast in his bones. He is a beast in human skin.

As soon as Xian Sheng finished boasting in his heart, he scolded him again. Zhan Zhen’s appearance was dignified, but his eyes were full of aggressiveness. When he (ZZ) finished nibbling, he turned around, took the lip balm and reapplied his lipstick, then put it directly into his (ZZ)  sleeve and said to him: “Let’s go.”

“What are you doing with it?”

“There is no harm in being prepared.”

After getting in the carriage, Xian Sheng understood what it means to be prepared. Even before the lipstick he had just put on dried he (ZZ) gave him another kiss. It was not until he got off the carriage in front of the palace gate that Zhan Zhen took out the lipstick and put it on him for the second time. Seeing his angry appearance, the corners of his mouth raised, a little bit like a ruffian: “Kissed you twice and still not happy, when will this squeamish disease get better.”3(t/n squeamish disease – ZZ is teasing him saying he’s fussy and hard to please )

Xian Sheng kicked him immediately: “Get out.”

Zhan Zhen went down and sighed: “You are getting more and more incomprehensible, , looks like I really have spoiled you.”

Xian Sheng grinds his teeth, if he hadn’t jumped down, he would definitely give him another kick.

Today, when entering the palace, no one was allowed to wear weapons. Xian Shang and Tang Li were stopped, and the latter frowned slightly: “Your Highness.”

Xian Shang looked around and he realized that the officials of the Jin Kingdom were all armed, so he took out his sword and said, “The guest is at the disposal of the master.”

“Brother is here.”

There was a voice behind him, and Xian Shang turned his head. Seeing Zhan Zhen’s rare dignity, he was immediately in a daze: “Zhan…”

“How come you don’t recognize me anymore?” Zhan Zhen walked beside the carriage and smiled. He looked handsome and romantic. When he was  just about to walk over, Tang Li’s eyes suddenly fell on his waist. Xian Shang’s eyes were solemn and asked the person who had just blocked their way: “is it possible that only guests in this palace can’t wear swords and the crown prince of Da Jin is not subject to rules?”

Zhan Zhen stopped and the eunuch who had confiscated the sword looked at Zhan Zhen and did not dare to say anything.

As a powerful country, he is naturally qualified to be unruly, but his Royal Highness did not speak, and he did not dare to take the initiative to raise it.

The carriage was very quiet. Zhan Zhen turned his head to look at the eunuch. The latter hurriedly bent over and smiled. He always felt that the Crown prince was not that easy to provoke. This guy has never been a law-abiding person.

He thought that the Prince of Liang really does not know what is good and bad. This is the Great Jin, the rules set by their own people, there are a few that are used to restrain their own royal family, let alone Prince Zhan Zhen.

What’s more, Zhan Zhen has already walked past the place where the weapons are kept, and he feels that Prince Liang is about to be finished. tsk, His Royal Highness is so arrogant, Xian Shang is really asking for trouble.

The carriage was very quiet. Both the Liang and Jin people present felt that Zhan Zhen was going to have a tantrum, the people in the back stopped, and the people in the front held their breath.

In just a few breaths, the hearts of the Liang people were already hanging high.

Zhan Zhen glanced at Xian Shang again. To be honest, he was really unhappy, but in the end, he just smiled slightly, took a few steps back, and passed the saber directly to the eunuch’s hand. The latter caught it with both hands and his arms sank in an instant, he only heard him say, “If it’s broken, I will take your head.”

The words were said lightly but the eunuch was frightened into a cold sweat: “Slave will take good care of them, please rest assured, Your Highness.”

He took out a dagger and a sleeve arrow respectively, then opened his arms and said frankly, “Brother, do you want to search again?” 4（t/n sleeve arrow- a dart hidden in the sleeve)

He called him elder brother, and the people around him suddenly recovered. Is it true that the prince of the state of Liang is regarded as his brother-in-law?

Xian Shang cupped his hands5(as a salute ) and said: “No need, Your highness.”

“Brother, please.” 6(t/n please (请) as in like an invite or sort of like saying this way)

There was the sound of the wheels, and Xian Shang noticed the carriage beside Zhan Zhen. He suddenly realized something: “Here is.”

“It’s the Crown princess.” Zhan Zhen, feeling honored said “Look, even I have to go into the palace on foot, but father allows him to ride in a carriage, the degree of favor can be seen in general ah.”

Xian Shang never expected that the rumors were true but the more Xian Sheng was favored the more worried he was, because everything that Emperor Jin gave him was based on the fact that he was a weak woman.

Xian Sheng didn’t show his face. He is now the Crown Princess of the state of Jin. If there is nothing important in front of him, he must not talk to other men, even if he is his elder brother.

When they arrived at their destination, Zhan Zhen personally came over and knocked on the door: “Here we are.”

He came out and was carried down by Zhan Zhen and placed on the floor. His eyes collided with Xian Shang, and they saluted each other.

Then, he followed Zhan Zhen and walked in with everyone.

The delegation sat down and whispered softly: “The princess is wearing our Liang costume.”

“Good, not forgetting your homeland, worthy of being Princess Xian sheng.”

Seeing him so favored and wearing Liang costumes openly, the Liang people could not help but straighten their backs. Xian Shang was placed opposite Zhan Zhen, facing Xian Sheng from afar, with some gentleness and approval in his eyes.

As for Jin people, it was the first time they saw Xian Sheng dressed like this. Seeing her, Qiu Wu Lun whispered to his father, the prime minister, “Isn’t crown prince consort a little too much?”

When the two countries met today, she actually supported the Liang people. Although he had no bad intention, after all, he was very eye-catching, but he was dressed like this, they were afraid that His Majesty and the Queen would be upset and angry. 

“Do you see people around you showing dissatisfaction?” The prime minister asked rhetorically. Qiu Wu Lun not only looked quietly, but also pricked up his ears. He found that many people were sighing–

“After meeting the Crown Princess, there’s no need to go to southern Liang (to see her).”

“This is a veritable beauty of Liang.”

…

It turns out that all of his colleagues are this superficial, Qiu Wu Lan said honestly: “It seems that the child has scared me.”

“You idiot, see clearly what she wears on her head.” The prime minister said, “Do you remember that crown?”

Qiu Wu Lun: “!!!”

The crown was worn on the day of the sacrifice to the ancestors, because it matched the clothes perfectly, so he didn’t notice it for a while.

All the people present here who accompanied the South Liang Delegation were all high-ranking officials. They had participated in the ancestor worship ceremony, so they couldn’t say they forgot, and they had already seen the beauty’s accessories.

Speaking of it, the clothes used to worship the ancestors that day were indeed a bit too solemn and not suitable for today’s venue, because the crown was seen by hundreds of officials of the Jin country. In the eyes of Jin people, Xian sheng’s clothes can be said to be specially designed to match the crown. In the end, they are Liang people. Several South Liang dowries can be justified. Wearing them is both normal and pleasing to the eye. What can His majesty and Queen say?

On the other hand, the delegation did not participate in the ancestor worship ceremony. They didn’t know that Xian Sheng’s crown was prepared by Empress of Jin, it is as if it is worn to match the clothes. It was precisely because they did not know that, in their view, the princess was not forgetting her homeland, but also supporting them (Jin) openly and honestly. Naturally, she had enough confidence.

General Jiang Wuhou sighed: “Really worthy of the Crown Prince, married to a wife, regardless of beauty or wisdom, is the best in the world.”

The mental calculations of the people on both sides are so subtle that people can’t find the slightest mistake.

Before Emperor Jin came, Jiang Qin was also relying on his father. He was not used to the flattery of General Wu. He said, “Master Qi said that his youngest son can also marry such a beauty.””

Wu Hou put on an honest face and said, “His father is a practical person, he certainly can’t.”

Jiang Qin’s face blackened.

As a fellow colleague, Master Qi 7Here Master Qi means the imperial tutor Qisat close to him and glanced at him when he saw this, “The general thinks that this old man is daydreaming?”

“How come.” General Wu hurried to arch hands with him, good-natured, and said with some trepidation, “Master Qi worries too much, our Jiang family is of ancestral footing, family rules are strict, I am only educating children according to the family tradition.”

“…” Although he was telling the truth, how could it make people so uncomfortable to listen to.

Didn’t he really imply anything?

Master Qi had a good heart, but seeing him didn’t seem to mean that, so he felt aggrieved in his heart, suddenly kicked his eldest son, and shouted in a low voice: “sticking to your father all day. Go back to your peers.”

Qi Zi You subconsciously pointed to Prime Minister Qiu: “Well, Qiu Wu lun hasn’t left yet.”

Qiu’s father is kind and filial, and the picture is harmonious. Master Qi shut his mouth and said after a while: “Qiu Wu Lun, this kid, gives his father a back rub 8(t/n a back massage).”

Qi Zi You gave him a decent squeeze on his shoulders.

When Qiu Wu lun saw it there, he took back his hand and turned back to his peers. When Qi Zi You came, he immediately said, “learn from me.”

Qi Zi You said coldly: “boring.”

Jiang Qin was unwilling to learn from his father and be a peacemaker, so he spat and said mercilessly: “Really, the son is just like his father.”

Because of the Xian Sheng dress, the North Country was happy to appreciate the beauties of the South Country, and the South Country was full of confidence to appreciate the officials of the North Country. The scene was full of joy.

Zhan Zhen turned his head to look at Xian Sheng from time to time. Seeing that he was sitting quietly and elegantly all the time, he couldn’t help asking, “Are you tired?  Lean on your husband to rest for a while?”

“No need.” Xian Sheng said gently: “Father should be coming soon.”

Zhan Zhen suddenly came over again and said in a low voice: “My sword never leaves my body.”

Xian Sheng pretended not to hear.

Zhan Zhen said again: “Father asked me to remove the knife before, I did not agree, and got beaten by the family law.”

Xian Sheng finally looked at him.

Zhan Zhen said painstakingly, “it’s all for you.”

Xian Sheng couldn’t help laughing. Of course, he knew that whether he obediently wore a wide robe today or took off his Sabre skillfully, it was all for him. But he felt that when Zhan Zhen had to emphasize it, it was too childish.

So he deliberately nodded his head and said: “…Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Thanks for what.” Zhan Zhen said generously and straightforwardly: “How about a reward?”

 

Translator – Updates will be slow for this month, so bear with me for a while. xoxo

 

1(t/n to receive the wind and wash the dust — to treat sb. to a dinner on arriving;)2This picture might give you a basic idea of the crown that Zhan Zhen is wearing for the occasion3(t/n squeamish disease – ZZ is teasing him saying he’s fussy and hard to please )4（t/n sleeve arrow- a dart hidden in the sleeve)5(as a salute )6(t/n please (请) as in like an invite or sort of like saying this way)7Here Master Qi means the imperial tutor Qi8(t/n a back massage)