"Alright, Bei, why don"t you go around to see if there is anyone whom you fancy. Just come back and tell us."
King Ming did not seem bothered by what happened. To him, it was just a minor episode which did not affect him at all.
Lin Mengya was beginning to feel perplexed. By right, King Ming would have known of this plan regarding Lin Mengwu.
However, why did King Ming seemed to have no reaction to Lin Mengwu and what happened to her?
Unless he was hiding it so well that even Lin Mengya could not tell from looking at him?
If this were the case, King Ming would be a very sophisticated personality.
"Yes, Father."
Hu Tianbei got up from his seat and with a cup of wine in his hand, he began walking through the crowd.
He was already a very handsome man, coupled with his elegant clothes, he looked especially n.o.ble and charming.
There was not a hint of uncouthness in him and he instantly won the hearts of the many young ladies present.
There were even some of the bolder young ladies who braced themselves to look him in the eye.
Lin Mengya was almost certain that King Ming and the Queen had conspired with each other without Hu Tianbei"s knowledge on this matter.
In fact, it was easy to see that the plan was for the Queen to give King Ming a daughter-in-law, who could act as a spy other than building a closer relationship between the two nations. How could King Ming be unaware of this?
If King Ming decided to be unfaithful, it would be made known to the daughter-in-law for sure.
However, if any accident happened to Lin Mengwu, he would be the one to shoulder the blame. Although it may seem that he was bringing home a daughter-in-law, in actuality, he was bringing home a forefather.
Moreover, he must have seen through Lin Mengwu"s intention just now.
How would she be a good consort for the crown prince if she was a lady who threw herself at other men in front of so many pairs of eyes?
By that time perhaps the entire royal family would become a laughing stock in the western va.s.sal state.
After what happened just now, Hu Tianbei probably did not have a good impression of Dajin women anymore.
Lin Mengya was most disagreeable to the marriage of convenience. In case of a discord between the two nations.
The innocent consort would be the one to suffer most.
The unfortunate thing was, she was not in power to make the decision.
Unexpectedly, Hu Tianbei did not put down the cup of wine on the table in front of any lady after walking around the banquet hall.
In fact, he had made his way to the place where the Dajin royal family members were seated.
The Queen frowned and wondered if he had his eyes on a princess.
Although that was not a big problem, she would prefer it to be Lin Mengwu, who would be very useful to her.
Hu Tianbei did not fancy any of the princesses. He walked up to Lin Mengya instead.
He placed his cup of wine in front of Lin Mengya on the table and started to talk while all the people looked shocked.
"The other day, I b.u.mped into the maidservant of a n.o.ble lady. After asking around, I discovered that this maidservant was Princess Yu"s maid. I"m wondering if Princess Yu would be willing to give her to me as my consort?"
In that instant, all the people present were shocked into a daze after hearing Hu Tianbei"s words.
How would the prestigious royal prince of the western va.s.sal state fancy a maidservant?
Was this a joke?
Did this imply that all the n.o.ble ladies present were no match for a mere servant girl serving Princess Yu?
Even Lin Mengya was dazed as stared at the silver cup containing the wine, sitting in front of her.
What did he mean? Was he talking about Baizhi?
All of a sudden, she remembered that the two of them had an argument. If this was what led to love at first sight for him, did this not sound ludicrous?
"You... I don"t really get what you mean, did you make a mistake?"
Lin Mengya inquired with caution, fearing what she heard was really Hu Tianbei"s intention.
"No, my mind is set. I will only marry her and no one else. I hope Princess Yu will grant my wish."
Hu Tianbei sounded determined and immovable.
The Queen and the Crown Prince both took on a ghastly expression, but there was no way they could take back their words.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, taking a consort is a serious matter and you should not treat it lightly. If you really fancy Princess Yu"s maidservant, you may ask Princess Yu to grant her to you as a concubine."
As the Dajin Crown Prince panicked at how things had turned out, he quickly tried to put a stop to it.
Lin Mengya, however, was displeased. How could the Dajin Crown Prince make a decision on her behalf? Baizhi was her maidservant after all.
She pondered for a while, lifted up the cup to wine on the table and said,
"Baizhi is not really my maidservant, but she"s my G.o.d sister. If that is the case, I have to ask her opinion on this. If she agrees to it, Your Highness, the Crown Prince of the western va.s.sal state, you have to make her your consort, keeping to the customs. Are you agreeable?"
Immediately, Lin Mengya could sense the Dajin Crown Prince and Queen shooting her a malicious look.
Regardless of how they plotted and schemed, in the end, the Crown Prince was being taken by Lin Mengya"s maidservant.
She could imagine how much Dajin"s Crown Prince and Queen must have hated her at now.
What could they do even if they hated her to the core? She was not even afraid of their evil schemes.
At this time, Lin Mengya had the palace guards as well as Qinghu protecting her, she had nothing to fear, even the secret evil plans of the Queen and the Crown Prince was going to deter her.
Who would have expected Hu Tianbei to agree to the terms set out by Lin Mengya?
The two of them lifted their cups of wine and clinked them together as a gesture that they have made an agreement.
The speed at which this was progressing was out of everyone"s expectation.
Did Hu Tianbei really fall in love with Baizhi at first sight?
Lin Mengya looked at Hu Tianbei with doubt as he blinked his eyes at her in quick succession.
Instantly, she understood what his intention was and Lin Mengya also secretly nodded.
So this was what was happening.
What a clever Crown Prince. He was really cautious although he may appear to be unrefined.
Hu Tianbei returned to his seat. He was unperturbed by how the others were looking at him. He was only looking at Lin Mengya, who nodded at him.
Seeing that they could not put a stop to this, the Dejin Queen and Crown Prince looked as if they were going to vomit blood.
"Your Highness, King Ming, don"t you think this is happening too fast and abrupt?"
The Dajin Crown Prince had been pulling a straight face but now he was forcing a smile on his face and attempting to negotiate terms with King Ming.
"This matter..."
King Ming was about to express his thoughts about how ridiculous this engagement was turning out, when Hu Tianbei got up from his seat and prostrated himself before the king.
"Father, the man from the western va.s.sal state had always esteem the promises we make. I had just had an agreement with Princess Yu. If I were to break it now, I would be going against the nature of our people. Moreover, our queen also did not come from a n.o.ble family. Didn"t you always tell me that the most important thing is the harmony between a husband and his wife?"
The gravity of Hu Tianbei"s words rendered King Ming and Dajin Crown Prince speechless.
Right from the beginning, the Dajin Crown Prince and the Queen were agreeable to Hu Tianbei"s request to make his own choice.
It would not look good on them if they took back their words just because there was a change in the candidate.
However, it seemed that Hu Tianbei"s words were very effective.
King Ming changed his att.i.tude immediately and patted Hu Tianbei on his shoulder, saying,
"Good, you are a true man of the western va.s.sal state, who is faithful and true to your words. You may rise. I will grant you this engagement."
Even King Ming had stated his stand. It appeared that the matter had been set.
The Dajin Crown Prince opened his mouth, but nothing came out of it.
"Alright, since the Crown Prince had already given his heart to someone, why don"t we give them our blessings?"
The Queen was a cunning fox after all. She quickly changed her att.i.tude to go along with Hu Tianbei"s wish.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Hu Tianbei and King Ming immediately thanked them with a bow. Although the atmosphere was still a little awkward, the Queen was all smiles by now.
The banquet proceeded as per normal, however, both Lin Mengya and Long Tianhao could sense that this was the quiet before the storm.
"Father, Mother, I"m very envious of Elder Brother for finding a beautiful wife. I"m wondering if I can also bring a wife back to the western va.s.sal state with me too?"
Hu Lunan"s words immediately brought the tense and awkward atmosphere back.
Hu Tianbei looked at his little brother disapprovingly. He was aware that Father was actually not very keen on the marriage of convenience.
Now, why did Lunan make such a request?
"If Second Prince is having this idea, I"m sure Mother, the Queen would be more than happy to help."
If their plan did not work with the crown prince of the western va.s.sal state, they definitely entertained the idea of the second prince entering into a marriage of convenience with them.
Anyway, no one could be sure who would end up succeeding the father as king.
One would imagine Hu Lunan knew this as a fact. He smiled subtly and pointed towards an inconspicuous corner of the hall.
"I have a feeling that this lady there is a virtuous lady. I want to marry her."
Lin Mengya"s missed a beat as all eyes turned to look at that direction. It was none other than her big sister Yueting, who was looking at her helplessly.
That was outrageous! How could he even think to consider someone in the Lin Family?
Once again Lin Mengya was implicated again. Back then, the marriage engagement between the eldest daughter of the Yues and the eldest son of the Lins was known to everyone.
Now, the second prince of the western va.s.sal state had his eyes on her. In that instant, people started talking about Master Lin.
"It looks like Master Lin is going to be a cuckold."
"Isn"t that right? He is fighting with our enemies bravely at this moment, but his fiance was going to be s.n.a.t.c.hed away by the second prince of the western va.s.sal state, sigh..."
All kinds of rumors entered Lin Mengya"s ears and this instantly stirred up her fierce anger.
What a scoundrel this second prince of the western va.s.sal state was! While he failed in kidnapping her, now was he eyeing on her sister-in-law?
Lin Mengya let out a cold laugh and not caring much about the consequence, she snorted,
"You called yourself the trustworthy royal family from the western va.s.sal state, but what turned out is a bunch of shameless people who s.n.a.t.c.h other people"s wives."
Although Lin Mengya had used a light voice, it was echoed throughout the banquet hall and everyone present held their breath.
This princess was truly one who spoke her mind without any fear.
The Dajin Crown Prince"s piercing eyes were on Lin Mengya instantly. He did not expect this woman repeatedly messed up two prospective arrangements for marriage for convenience.
He almost lost it there and then.
"Third Younger Brother, please discipline your consort!"
Although Prince Yu was arrogant and aloof, he was merely a clown in the Crown Prince"s eyes.
If it were in the past, Long Tianhao would have shut his consort up immediately.
Today, however, Long Tianyi responded by standing up and fixing his eyes on his consort.
"What Ya"er said was right. I have the same sentiments too."
"Wah..." the guests were beginning to panic. Did they hear wrongly?
They were shocked that this heartless Long Tianhao who did not even lift a finger to help the beauty who fell from the stage, would take such a risk by standing up for his consort!
Good heavens! Things had gone so crazy in this banquet!