Lu Wanning was summoned to the study. At a glance, she saw Lu Hongxi's red and swollen eye sockets. She immediately walked up and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Father? Did something big happen today? You don't seem to be in a good mood."
Lu Hongxi looked up at Lu Wanning. He just couldn't bring himself to say the words about asking her to go on a political marriage. Tears welled up in his eyes. He felt indebted to his daughter. Since she was born, he had been away from her. He only came back once every few years. Every time he saw her, he would sigh at how fast she had grown. He had never accompanied her.
So when he managed to come back, he doted on her recklessly, spoiling her to the point of being lawless.
Lu Wanning gave a faint smile. "Father won't tell me. Then let me guess. Today is the day when the envoys from Zhaobi enter the palace to pay their respects. In the past, Zhaobi's envoys were neglected in the capital and even assassinated. Some people have predicted before that Zhaobi would surely not let it go. I think the demands of the envoys this time must be quite high."
Lu Hongxi looked at his daughter, who was analyzing things so logically. He felt even worse.
"As for their demands, it's unrealistic for them to ask for territory. So what they want must be gold, silver, treasures, fine carriages, and beautiful women."
When it came to beautiful women, Lu Hongxi's heart sank deeper and deeper. His Ning'er was as beautiful as his wife in her youth. There might not be a more beautiful woman in the capital or even in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Seeing Lu Hongxi's sad look, Lu Wanning added, "If they just wanted ordinary gold, silver, and beautiful women, Father wouldn't be this sad. So what they want is definitely not ordinary things. It might be... a princess for a political marriage. Among the current princesses, besides Qin'er, there's only me. Qin'er is the legitimate princess. If she were to go on a political marriage, Father would be troubled by state affairs, but he wouldn't be this heart - broken. Analyzing this way, the only candidate for the political marriage is me, right?"
Despair was written all over Lu Hongxi's face. Tears welled up in his eyes again. He reached out and held Lu Wanning's hand. She had grown up. When she was a child, her chubby little hands liked to hug his neck and act coquettishly. She used to complain that his beard tickled her.
She had grown up, becoming mature and sensible.
He should have been happy, but at this moment, he would rather she was still that lawless girl, rather she was pestering and wouldn't listen to his explanation and refused to go on a political marriage.
"Yes... Father is sorry for you..."
Lu Wanning just smiled. "Father, if it has to be me, I'm willing."
Lu Hongxi took a deep breath, suppressing the sadness in his heart, and explained, "They only want the legitimate princess. But Princess Qin is young and timid. If she goes on a political marriage... I'm afraid that when a war breaks out in the future, she will have no way out. But you... Ning'er, Father believes in you, and please believe in Father. After the war in the Northern Desert is over, Father will surely volunteer to lead the troops and bring you back in person."
Lu Wanning nodded and held his hand back. "Father, daughter also believes in Father. If it really is me who goes on a political marriage, daughter will take good care of herself and wait for Father to take daughter home."
Lu Hongxi had a lot of words about the importance of the family and the country stuck in his heart. He thought he had to have a long - winded talk with Ning'er and analyze things carefully to persuade her. Unexpectedly, he didn't even have a chance to speak, and Ning'er already understood everything.
His Ning'er...
Lu Hongxi couldn't hold back anymore. He hugged Lu Wanning and burst into tears.
However, the princess waiting outside was not as calm and self - composed as Lu Wanning. Ignoring the guards' obstruction, she rushed in and slapped Lu Hongxi twice.
"Lu Hongxi, are you still a human? Ning'er is your daughter, your own flesh and blood! You feel sorry for other people's daughters. Why don't you feel sorry for Ning'er?"
Lu Hongxi didn't resist or explain.
The princess hugged Lu Wanning and still roared, "I won't allow it. Do you hear me? I won't allow you to send Ning'er on a political marriage. I don't care about those so - called princesses! Lu Hongxi, I've been married to you for so many years. When Chi'er was less than one year old, my father - in - law took him away to raise him. When Nian'er was just four years old, he was sent to Luocheng. Have you ever thought about me? I know your Lu family are military generals, and I'm bound to suffer the pain of being separated from my children. Have I ever complained? But why, now you even want to take away my Ning'er?"
Lu Wanning patted the princess to comfort her. "Mother, stop talking. The state affairs are of the utmost importance. Father also said that he will bring me back in the future..."
The princess shook her head desperately. "When is the future? Ning'er, do you know how hard it is to go on a political marriage? The king of Zhaobi is almost sixty years old and has many sons. If the king dies, do you know what awaits you? If a war breaks out between the Great Zhou and Zhaobi, how can Zhaobi let you go? Even if you're lucky enough to survive, how can you gain a foothold in the capital?"
Lu Wanning smiled. "Mother, daughter will be fine."
The princess was crying so hard that she turned around and threw herself at Lu Hongxi, pounding him hard. Knowing that Lu Hongxi was not afraid of her weak punches, she stretched out her nails to scratch his face. She even broke her long nails, but she didn't seem to feel the pain.
Lu Hongxi felt so heart - broken that he held the princess's hand. "It's all my fault. My lady can beat and scold me as she likes, but please don't hurt yourself..."
The princess wailed, "Why should I beat and scold you? I just want my daughter to be safe and sound..."
Just then, a maid's urgent voice came from outside the door. "Princess... Princess, something's wrong with the young mistress. Please go and take a look..."
The princess was in a daze for a while and couldn't react.
The maid urged again, "Princess, the young master has a fever, which has scared the young mistress. There's no one in charge in the Western Courtyard. Please make a decision."
Lu Wanning knew that Wei was deliberately coming to relieve the situation. She quickly persuaded the princess, "Mother, is Chengcheng sick? Sister - in - law must be very worried. Mother, go quickly."
"But..." The princess looked at her daughter's face and felt sad again.
"Mother, even if it's a political marriage, it won't happen immediately. Sister - in - law can't wait. Go quickly."
The princess was in a mess and didn't know what to do. Lu Wanning motioned for the nanny to come in and help the princess out.
Lu Hongxi sat there blankly. It was a long time before he said, "Ning'er, Father is really sorry for you."
Lu Wanning asked someone to bring some ointment and carefully applied it to Lu Hongxi's face. She said, "Father will enter the palace to state your case tomorrow, right?"
Lu Hongxi nodded. "The emperor advocates war, but the current situation of the Great Zhou really doesn't allow for another war. The people in the Northern Desert are holding on tightly. Your second brother has fallen into a trap. If I lead the troops against Zhaobi and disperse our forces, it will be harmful to the Great Zhou in every way."
Lu Wanning said, "In that case, please analyze the pros and cons carefully, Father, and persuade the emperor to choose a political marriage."
Lu Hongxi slowly raised his head and looked into his daughter's eyes with courage. "Ning'er, do you... blame Father?"
It was impossible to say that she didn't blame him at all. She was a selfish person. When she was in school, she couldn't really understand those saints who passed by their homes three times without entering. But she had to admit that great people were probably like this, sacrificing their own families for the greater good. Her father was such a great man.