Chapter 688: Sacrifices
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Princess Xunyang’s palace was a very small one located next to the Weiyang Palace.
The palace was built when Xunyang was three years old and the way it was built had been discussed by the King and the Queen together. Xunyang was a princess, so unlike the other princes, she needed to stay here until she became an adult. If the princess was married off to some other land, she might not have any opportunity to visit their own home again in the future, but if the princess was just marrying a local, she would still be able to spend a few days in the palace after getting married.
The King had once promised the Queen that their Xunyang would not be married off to some other land. So they spent a lot of energy on building the palace and Xunyang did not move until she was five. It took almost two years to build the palace.
Xunyang was 14 years old and it was still one year before she became an adult, but…
The King sighed as well.
They had to keep the balance, and some people had to be sacrificed.
1
Xunyang had been living as a princess for more than a decade, and as a princess of the country, she needed to sacrifice herself for the country as well. The King always thought that she should give as much as she had been given, so he did not think that what he had promised the Queen earlier was anything unreasonable.
The King walked in.
The maids were very surprised at the sight of the King. They went to greet the King happily.
The King took off his coat, then he sat down in front of Xunyang.
Xunyang greeted him.
The King said with a smile, “Just get up, now you know that you should greet me.”
Xunyang also smiled. She was very happy to see her father visiting her, but Xunyang did not dare to behave unruly as before. Living in the court, Xunyang noticed that her father had changed and she was very aware of how to behave properly.
“Father, it is cold outside, drink some warm tea.” Xunyang smiled and served her father the tea personally.
The King smiled with satisfaction. She was indeed his daughter.
He sipped the tea before putting down the teacup as he said while looking at Xunyang. “Xunyang, you are not young any more, you are becoming an adult next year and you should be prepared to get married.”
When Xunyang heard what he said, she felt as if her heart skipped a beat.
She had already had the experience.
That so-called Elder Brother of the Phoenix Girl somehow had obtained father’s preference. He asked her to marry them and they did not drop it until her own brother fixed it. It happened not too long ago. And now father was again starting to make plans again.
Xunyang had a very complicated look on her face. She wanted to marry someone she liked, not someone her father married her to. She forced a smile and said, “Father, I would like to spend two more years with mother, so we don’t have to think about marriage so quickly. Also, I am your daughter and I will always have a great suitor!”
The King looked at Xunyang. He stayed silent for a long while.
The Eunuch gave a light cough and brought the King back. He had been hesitating at this moment. He should not have done that, because he had already made the decision. He even wrote the imperial order! It was not time to make a choice, it was time for him to pass on the message.
The King brought himself back and said straightforwardly. “Xunyang, I would like you to stay with us for two more years, but things are different now.. I am marrying you to the Prince of the North Qi Land, and he can’t wait for two more years.”
1
