157 Initiate War (2/2)
Princess Lingchen went inside and bowed as she greeted her mother. ”Greetings Imperial Mother. May you live long and prosper.”
The Empress smiled and told her daughter to take a seat next to her. ”I heard that the ministers have been pushing you to marry the Prince of Western Zhou.”
”The situation between Da Cheng, Qian Rong and Eastern Zhou is not good right now,” Princess Lingchen said. ”Da Cheng could win a war if we were against Qian Rong. However, the two countries decided to work together. Da Cheng's military is not powerful enough to fight them both. The ministers think that if I marry the Prince of Western Zhou, then, with Western Zhou's military power and ours, the others will not dare to go against us.”
In the past two years, Qian Rong had suddenly started to provoke Da Cheng. The situation between them has gotten worst as Qian Rong accused Da Cheng of imprisoning and murdering Prince Lu Wei during his stay in Da Cheng a few years ago.
The prince has stayed and left Da Cheng a few years ago, and it was until recently that Qian Rong wanted to pursue the matter. Of course, his intention was questionable.
Through his men, Jiang Xiao Tian found out that the political scene in Qian Rong was not too good. The Emperor of Qian Rong was seen as a weak ruler among his ministers and officials. Moreover, gossip that the Emperor killed his father and his brothers to gain the throne spread among the citizen. In the end, his retainer suggested to initiate war and shift the rumor to Da Cheng. This move was to let the rumor die and to build up his reputation in court.
”Then,” the Empress spoke, ”What do you think about this matter?”
Princess Lingchen looked at her mother and smiled. She could guess that her father, the Emperor, had sent her mother over to ask for her opinion on this matter. ”Of course, I would be happy if Da Cheng could win the war without depending on the others. However, I also know that as a member of the imperial family, I know that my marriage will not come with love. If I can help to stop our people from suffering through this marriage, then, I have no objection.”
The Empress gaze softened as she heard her daughter's words. She had married her husband for love, and that thought made her feel so lucky. As a mother, of course, she wanted her daughter to be happy too. The Empress held the Princess' hand and patted it softly.
”Regarding your marriage, I have nothing to say,” the Empress said as she stared into her daughter's eyes. ”Although marriage in the Imperial family rarely comes with love, as long as you can live with someone who respects you and treat you with kindness, that is enough.”
Princess Lingchen could only reply to her mother's words with a smile. The mother and daughter had a brief chat for a while longer before the Empress left the Princess' quarter.
After the Empress left, the Crown Princess turned to her maidservant, Ah Zhen. ”Have you prepared everything?”
Ah Zhen nodded. ”Your Highness, don't worry. I have prepared everything as your instruction. The Second Master Jiang is here to escort you.”