Ning Chen rode to the palace and stood before His Majesty in the imperial study.

"Your subject presents himself to Your Majesty."

The Xuan Emperor lifted a hand. "Get up and talk."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Xuan Emperor looked at Ning Chen. "Do you know why this emperor called you into the palace?"

Ning Chen shook his head. "Your subject does not."

The Xuan Emperor picked up a memorial and had Eunuch Quan hand it to Ning Chen.

Ning Chen took the memorial, opened it and looked, and his expression stiffened a little.

"Asking for a bride?"

It was a letter asking for a bride, sent by the Nanyue Kingdom. They wanted a marriage alliance with the Great Xuan, and they were asking for the Ninth Princess. The signature was Kang Luo's.

The Xuan Emperor said, "The Nanyue Kingdom is willing to sign a truce with the Great Xuan and not take up arms for ten years... The condition is Huai'an as a bride."

"Ning Chen. What do you make of it?"

Ning Chen could not help saying, "They can eat a fart."

The Xuan Emperor said, "If Huai'an married over there, it would keep the southern frontier at peace for ten years."

Something jumped in Ning Chen's chest, and he looked at the Xuan Emperor... By the sound of that, His Majesty is a little tempted.

"What does Your Majesty mean by that?"

The Xuan Emperor said, "This emperor is naturally unwilling to marry Huai'an off to a barbarian land... But there are men at court who fear the Nanyue Kingdom like a tiger."

"Last time they were willing to cede land and pay indemnity. Now it costs no more than one daughter of this emperor's, and they will be delighted to do it."

"Ning Chen, this emperor may be honored as an emperor, but there are many times when there is nothing to be done... The officials give their counsel, and this emperor cannot disregard their opinions."

Ning Chen's face was hard. "Your Majesty, if Your Majesty married the princess over there, it would be the bitterest…