Chapter 198:

Because the young prince Yixun was extremely fond of Jiaojiao and made such an “excessive” request, Yan Yu and Yan Jia felt tremendous pressure. No matter what, they had to protect Jiaojiao tightly and absolutely could not allow Prince Yixun to take her away—under no circumstances!

But regardless, both of them had to attend their studies at the Shangshu Academy. Yixun seized every available opportunity to visit Jiaojiao daily, even if she was asleep, he would wait until she awoke.

Layue, however, did not attempt to block this. After all, they were just children. Although discussing marriage was impossible, there was no need to prevent them from meeting.

Prince Diwa could not stay in Nanqin for long, due to many objective constraints. Not long after, it was heard that they were preparing to pack and depart.

“Mother, why do we have to leave? Can’t we stay a few more days?” Yixun wore a gloomy expression as he looked at the second princess consort.

If they left, he would not see Jiaojiao anymore.

During these days, Jiaojiao had just started to become slightly familiar with him. If they left later, perhaps she might even agree to call him “older brother.”

The little boy thought optimistically.

“Yixun, be a good boy. If you like Jiaojiao, we can come visit her again in the future. If we don’t leave now, your royal grandfather will get anxious,” the second princess consort persuaded, looking at her son’s face.

Yixun was usually well-behaved. Hearing his mother’s words, he bit his lip.

“Can we take Jiaojiao with us? I really like her. She’s so soft, delicate, and adorable. She even bites and glares at people,” Yixun looked at the second princess consort with hope.

Wasn’t he the grandson of the emperor? Couldn’t they secretly take Jiaojiao away?

Looking at her son, the second princess consort shook her head and smiled. Was being able to bite and glare really considered an advantage?

“No. Jiaojiao is Nanqin’s little princess; we cannot take her with us. Be a good boy!”

Hearing there was no hope, Yixun lowered his head helplessly, not knowing what he was thinking.

Seeing her son finally stop dwelling on the matter, the second princess consort exhaled in relief.

How could this child be so stubborn!

Actually, she had already discussed this matter with her husband earlier.

Even Prince Diwa thought that if a marriage could be arranged, it would be the best-case scenario, giving them additional support.

Unfortunately, the Jing Emperor and Empress Shen had no such intention at all.

Later, they considered again—it wasn’t hard to understand. For some unknown reason, the imperial family of Nanqin had very few daughters. Since they were rare, they were naturally precious.

Empress Shen was favored, so the little princess naturally received even more affection, which was evident from the attitude of the palace.

The possibility of them marrying her off to another country was almost nonexistent.

Honestly, the second princess consort thought, if it were her own daughter leaving and living so far away that she could only meet a few times in a lifetime, she would also be reluctant.

On the day of departure.

Layue naturally did not bring the children along—it was inconvenient and unnecessary.

Watching the Diwa second prince’s family fully prepared, Layue smiled and stood behind the emperor.

After the emperor bid farewell to the Diwa second prince, Yixun, who stood behind the second prince, looked at the emperor and spoke: “Your Majesty, when I grow up, may I marry Jiaojiao?”

This voice was so loud that not only the emperor, but also several ministers standing not far behind him, heard.

They looked at each other in surprise.

However, the emperor was not surprised and smiled, saying, “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. When Princess Zhaoyang was still young, I had already promised the empress that I would never allow her to marry far away. We all hope she can stay in the capital, by our side.”

Although the speaker was a child, the emperor answered carefully, word by word. In fact, he naturally had his own thoughts. These words were not merely for a child to hear, but also for the second prince and his wife.

Thinking of taking Princess Zhaoyang as a bride? Not a chance.

“Can I exchange my younger sister for her?” Prince Yixun asked pitifully.

The emperor smiled: “Truly a child.”

Seeing his son’s behavior, the second prince seemed extremely embarrassed, wiping sweat from his brow and smiling: “Your Majesty, please forgive my son’s impertinence. He is such a sincere child, and they have truly developed feelings during these days.”

The emperor did not seem particularly affected, as if it were not a significant matter: “Children are like that. My son Yu also often says he will marry his younger sister. How can a child’s words be taken seriously? If I really let him marry his sister, the royal family of Nanqin would become the laughingstock of the realm. After all, what do children know about marriage?”

“That’s true,” the second prince also smiled.

“I know. Yan Yu cannot marry Jiaojiao because he’s her older brother, but I am not Jiaojiao’s older brother, so I can marry her,” Yixun bit his lip, approached the emperor, and clenched his little fist as he shouted.

The emperor smiled and patted his head. This child was indeed a stubborn and persistent little fellow.

“But as I said earlier, I do not wish for her to marry far away. In the future, Jiaojiao’s husband will have to become a son-in-law living in our Yan household.”

Upon hearing this, not only the Diwa second prince but also the ministers behind him were astonished.

Actually, since Princess Zhaoyang was so beloved, they had considered the possibility of their families providing a suitable young man to marry the princess.

But today, hearing the emperor say so directly, they were surprised. They had noticed the emperor’s great affection for Princess Zhaoyang, but they had not expected it to be this deep.

If the husband had to become a son-in-law living in the wife’s family, how could the noble families dare to marry the princess?

“What does ‘son-in-law living in the wife’s family’ mean?” Yixun tilted his head and asked.

Then he turned to look at his parents: “Is it like Auntie Anyu?”

The second princess consort nodded.

The little boy seemed to become conflicted.

The emperor, however, was quite patient with the child and did not seem particularly displeased.

But the little boy didn’t think for long before lifting his head and loudly declaring: “I’m willing. I can become a son-in-law living in the wife’s family. Please let me marry Jiaojiao!”

Even the second prince did not expect his son to say such a thing.

Looking at the boy’s determined little face, the emperor hesitated: “You’re still young. What do you really understand?”

“I do understand.”

Looking at everyone, the emperor’s voice turned low: “You’re still young and don’t really understand what it means to become a son-in-law living in the wife’s family. If you still feel the same when you grow up, then come to Nanqin. If you can win the heart of my beloved daughter, then I will not stand in your way.”

Yixun nodded fiercely: “I’m willing. I will definitely be willing. She will like me. I’m the most capable.”

Everyone burst into laughter. What a child’s words indeed.

“Your Majesty, may I see Jiaojiao one last time?”

Jiaojiao had not been brought out today.

The little boy thought for a moment and knelt down, pleading: “Please let me see Jiaojiao. When I return to Diwa, I won’t see her for a long time. Please, please let me.”

Normally, the emperor might not have agreed, but looking at this child, the emperor found himself considering it.

After all, this was his daughter’s first little admirer.

He nodded slightly.

The little boy cheered and jumped up.

Soon enough, Jiaojiao was carried out, while Xiaosi and Xiaowu were not present.

Jiaojiao was very happy being carried out, laughing all the way.

Seeing the emperor and Layue, she stretched her hands toward the emperor and called out: “Father Emperor——”

Every time this happened, Layue felt a bit jealous of this girl.

The emperor, however, didn’t care. In front of the court ministers and the Diwa people, he took his daughter into his arms.

“Be a good girl, Jiaojiao.”

“May I hold Jiaojiao for a moment? Just a moment, just a little while. I won’t drop her,” Yixun begged eagerly. He was about to leave, and he wanted to say goodbye to Jiaojiao.

The emperor looked at his delicate little daughter: “Jiaojiao, let this older brother hold you for a moment, okay?”

Jiaojiao turned her head and snuggled into the emperor’s shoulder.

Yixun bit his lip: “Jiaojiao, may I hold you for a moment? I’m leaving now, and you won’t see me anymore. Jiaojiao——”

His voice was brimming with profound grievance. As the most cherished little royal grandson of Diwa, when had he ever been disregarded like this before?

“Jiaojiao——”

Seeing the little boy’s appearance, Layue spoke: “Jiaojiao, let the older brother hold you for a moment, okay?”

Although Jiaojiao was very attached to the emperor, Layue’s words were still effective.

She hesitated but finally turned around, pouting her little mouth at Yixun.

The emperor lowered his body, and Yixun quickly took Jiaojiao into his arms: “Jiaojiao is so cute!”

Thinking of how this little girl had kissed Yan Yu, he looked at her longingly: “Brother is leaving now. Jiaojiao, will you kiss your older brother goodbye?”

The emperor raised his eyebrows. This kid was getting more and more audacious!

Perhaps because he had spent more time with children in the past two years, the emperor had developed a better temper. In the past, he would never have been so affectionate with children. He would certainly never have agreed to such a proposal from a young prince.

“Will you kiss me like you kissed your older brother Yan Yu?”

Jiaojiao looked at him, frowning with her little mouth pouting, her little fists opening and closing.

As if she had finally decided, she “smooched” a loud kiss on Yixun’s face.

Then she called out to her father emperor with “Hug! Hug!”

The emperor took the child back.

Then they heard Yixun shouting loudly: “Jiaojiao likes me too! When I grow up, I will come to marry Jiaojiao.”

Whatever the children said were just playful words. The emperor had not personally agreed, so nothing was decided. Everyone knew this. And if Prince Diwa did not ascend to the throne, Yixun would have even less chance of marrying Jiaojiao.

The son of a small foreign prince was far less valuable than the son of a Nanqin minister. This had nothing to do with status, but rather with practicality.

Finally, the Diwa second prince’s family departed. Thinking of the private agreement between them, the emperor smiled.

The second prince was a reasonable and clever man. The emperor did not fear having such an intelligent neighbor.

His experience in the court over the years had told him that it was more degrading to fight with fools.

Their countries shared a border. Instead of fighting each other, it was better to unite and work together.

Although Diwa’s national strength was far inferior to Nanqin’s, the world was not merely composed of these two countries.

The deterrence power generated by their alliance would be unimaginable to others.

They did not need to do anything. As long as they coexisted peacefully, they could prevent other countries from acting recklessly and ensure the safety and stability of the people.

The old emperor of Diwa understood this point, and there was a tacit understanding between the two sides. The emperor hoped the newly chosen ruler would also maintain this understanding.