Rebirth: Marry a General instead of a Prince

Before evening, the sound of firecrackers could be heard everywhere inside and outside Shangjing City.

Bai Zhiyuan was wearing a light pink brocade hibiscus skirt. Her long black hair was like a waterfall, tied up in a high bun. The jade hairpin in her hair made her face look even more beautiful.

Qi Shuyue had also been dressed. She was wearing a long dress with hundreds of golden butterflies and flowers, and peonies embroidered on the hem. She looked bright and full of life with every step she took.

Bai Zhiyuan, along with his mother Princess Duanhui and Qi Shuyue, rode in the Bai Mansion's carriage, listening to the sound of horse hooves kicking and clattering as they drove along the official road towards the palace.

Qi Shuyue could no longer contain her excitement and lifted the curtain several times to look in along the way.

As the sky gradually darkened, the lights in the houses of Shangjing were as bright as day. The number of pedestrians on the street gradually decreased, and the shops closed one after another, preparing to go home for the reunion dinner.

When we arrived at the palace gate, there was a constant stream of traffic and horse-drawn carriages from various families. People who knew each other were already chatting with each other at the palace gate and celebrating the New Year.

Today, men and women sat at different seats. The female relatives were led in by the palace maids, while the male relatives were brought in from another direction by the eunuchs.

Bai Zhiyuan got out of the car with Princess Duanhui and Qi Shuyue, and, under the guidance of the palace maids, headed towards the palace banquet hall.

Bai Zhiyuan looked around quietly. The palace was brightly lit and prosperous. Now that the queen was under house arrest due to illness, Concubine Rou had the final say in the entire harem. Tonight's palace banquet was probably also her credit.

But is it really as prosperous and peaceful as it seems? The emperor is already terminally ill, and is now only relying on Cheng Yuanheng's medicine to keep him going. He has yet to appoint a crown prince, and I'm afraid the Prince of Yan is getting anxious. He was originally confident about the matter, but after the commotion during his last court session, the emperor is probably unhappy.

The longer the emperor dragged his feet in refusing to appoint a crown prince, the more anxious the Prince of Yan would become, and he would even start to have wild thoughts. The decisions people make when they are irrational can often push them into the abyss.

Bai Zhiyuan was thinking as she walked. Although Qi Shuyue, who was standing beside her, had given her many instructions before King Jingyang left, the excitement in her eyes was almost bursting out.

When they arrived at the palace banquet hall, their father, grandfather, and brother were already seated. A group of people gathered around them, chatting with each other.

Bai Zhiyuan sat down with Princess Duanhui, and seeing Qi Shuyue still looking around, he quickly asked Ling Xiao to bring her back. Qi Shuyue curled her lips in disdain and rolled her eyes.

Bai Zhiyuan sat quietly in his seat, holding up his teacup, and looked at the men's seat opposite him calmly.

Suddenly the crowd fell into a brief silence, and she subconsciously looked towards the door.

They are King Qi Zeyi of Yan and King Qi Zeshuo of Jin.

Prince Yan came slowly, looking calm and relaxed, as gentle as jade, with a tall and sturdy figure, graceful and elegant. He wore a jade crown on his head, a mutton-fat jade ring on his hand, and a faint smile on his lips, but he paused for a moment when he glanced at Bai Zhiyuan.

The Prince of Jin had a gentle smile on his face and exuded the air of a modest gentleman. He was elegant and gentle, like a graceful young man.

Qi Zeyi, in the previous life, I was deceived by his appearance. When I saw him like this again in this life, I couldn't help but feel cold in my heart.

Don't be fooled by his smug look now, he may be hiding some sinister and vicious schemes in his heart. The emperor has been reluctant to appoint a crown prince, Bai Zhiyuan thought, Qi Zeyi may be unable to wait any longer.

Bai Zhiyuan retracted his gaze, picked up the cup and took a sip of tea, but caught a glimpse of Qi Shuyue beside him, staring at King Yan without blinking.

Bai Zhiyuan laughed. Judging from the appearance of the King of Yan, he was indeed a gentleman. You can't judge a person by his appearance. She gently pulled Qi Shuyue's sleeve. Qi Shuyue frowned. Bai Zhiyuan asked, "What are you looking at, cousin?"

Qi Shuyue was startled and quickly looked away, but couldn't help but look at King Yan again. Bai Zhiyuan raised her eyes and saw that there were many people surrounding King Yan, but when she looked over, he seemed to have sensed something and his eyes went straight to Bai Zhiyuan.

Bai Zhiyuan sneered and looked away, but saw Qi Shuyue looking at Qi Zeyi with an obsessed look on her face. She suddenly felt uneasy and asked hurriedly, "Cousin?"

Qi Shuyue looked at her reluctantly and asked, "Cousin, is the one who just came in His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan?"

Bai Zhiyuan replied: "That's right."

Qi Shuyue: "Is he the one who broke off the engagement with my cousin?"

Bai Zhiyuan glanced at her with a bit of surprise, but still replied, "It's him."

Qi Shuyue said shyly, "I heard that His Royal Highness Prince Yan is still unmarried. Why did my cousin want to break off the engagement with such an outstanding man? I also heard that he is now a hot candidate for the crown prince..."

Bai Zhiyuan frowned: "Cousin, this person is not someone you can dream of. Cousin, you'd better not have any improper thoughts about him."

After hearing this, Qi Shuyue's brows were filled with anger, but today was a palace banquet after all, so she didn't dare to say much. She just snorted coldly and stopped talking.

Bai Zhiyuan saw this and stopped caring about her. She had just arrived in Beijing and she would not do anything wrong.

There was another moment of silence in the crowd, and then there was a commotion at the door.

Bai Zhiyuan looked up and saw Xie Yunsong and Cheng Beixiao coming.

Bai Zhiyuan just stared at Xie Yunsong. He was dressed in jet-black clothes, which made him look tall and straight. There was no expression on his angular face. His expression was cold and his eyes were deep. He seemed to glance at her inadvertently, and there was a faint smile in his eyes.

This was in stark contrast to Cheng Beixiao who was smiling beside him.

Bai Zhiyuan saw the smile flashing in his eyes when he looked at her, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but curl up. But he didn't know that all of this was seen by King Yan, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed across his eyes.

After everyone sat down, they heard the eunuch shouting, "The Emperor has arrived - Concubine Rou has arrived - Concubine Xian has arrived -"

Everyone bowed their heads and saluted, and saw the emperor slowly walking towards the main seat with the support of the two ladies.

After sitting down, Emperor Renxiao looked pale, obviously still ill. He was clearly the same age as Bai Tingxuan, but looked even older due to his overwork.

The Queen Mother did not show up today. I heard that she had returned from Puhua Temple. The Queen Mother fell ill, the Queen went crazy, and Princess Changle, who was practicing in Puhua Temple, died. A fire seriously injured the two women in the palace. There may be some twists and turns in it, but it is unknown. Some smart people found that the matter seemed to be related to Rong'an County Princess, and they looked at her with some fear.

Bai Zhiyuan didn't know what others were thinking. She only knew that the Queen Mother was ill, the Queen was crazy, and only Concubine Rou and Concubine Xian were left in the palace. The Prince of Yan felt that he had won the game, but he was actually terrified. Since returning from Puhua Temple, the Emperor wanted Concubine Xian to serve him closely. The Prince of Yan was always sensitive and cautious, and he must be very anxious now.

Qi Zeyi narrowed his eyes, looked at Concubine Xian's attentive appearance, and raised his thin lips in a mocking arc.

Bai Zhiyuan, who was sitting opposite, saw all of this. She said to herself, "Qi Zeyi, soon, I will settle all the grudges with you from past lives."

After Emperor Renxiao sat down, he first glanced at the people below, and then said some New Year's congratulations indifferently. Then he changed the subject and said that today's banquet was also to celebrate Bai Tingxuan's return.

Emperor Renxiao praised Bai Tingxuan lavishly and gave him many rare treasures. The atmosphere was intense, but Emperor Renxiao was ill and could not drink, so he asked Prince Jin to toast everyone on his behalf.

Suddenly, people looked at the King of Jin differently. The King of Yan's face darkened, and he drank the wine in his cup silently.

After three rounds of drinks, Emperor Renxiao swept his eyes over everyone again. He paused for a moment when he swept his eyes over Xie Yunsong, then looked straight at Bai Zhiyuan.

Bai Zhiyuan felt a tightness in his heart, not knowing what Emperor Renxiao meant.

The next moment, Emperor Renxiao spoke in a deep voice: "Earlier, I was grateful to General Yunhui for his service in guarding the northern border for Dali, and asked him what reward he wanted, but he refused. I know that General Yunhui has a sweetheart, and today is the New Year's Eve reunion day, so why don't I help them and grant a marriage between General Yunhui and his sweetheart!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole audience was in an uproar. Many people were already secretly looking at Bai Zhiyuan, some were envious, some were hostile, and many girls were silently praying that they would be the one General Yun Hui loved.

Until the voice of Emperor Renxiao was heard again: "Rong'an! Come here!"

Bai Zhiyuan stood up, walked slowly to the center of the hall, and saluted in one go.

Emperor Renxiao coughed twice while sitting on the table, and Concubine Xian hurriedly helped him to breathe. Emperor Renxiao stared at Bai Zhiyuan and said, "Rong'an, Yun Hui wanted to marry you in front of me. Now I ask you, what do you mean?"

Bai Zhiyuan still maintained the posture of saluting, and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Your Majesty, General Xie and I once went through life and death together in the Northern Territory. Now that we have returned to the capital, we are even more in love with each other. It is an honor for me and General Xie to be personally granted marriage by Your Majesty today, and it is also an honor for General Weiyuan's Mansion and Xie's Mansion!"

There was a sudden silence all around.

After a while, Emperor Renxiao laughed loudly on the high throne and said, "Well, if that's the case, I will grant you two a marriage today in front of all the ministers, and you two can get married as soon as possible after the New Year!"

Bai Zhiyuan was overjoyed, and Xie Yunsong, who was always cold and arrogant, also smiled. He walked out from the men's seat and knelt down beside Bai Zhiyuan. The two said in unison: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

At the banquet, Bai Tingxuan and King Jingyang were laughing heartily, and Bai Qiuze's face was also filled with a bright smile.

Looking at Consort Xian and Consort Rou beside Emperor Renxiao, they both had disbelief on their faces.

The King of Yan, who was sitting at the table, had already clenched his fists, his face gloomy and scary. The King of Jin had a flash of disappointment in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared, and he put on his usual gentle smile.

After expressing their gratitude, Xie Yunsong and Bai Zhiyuan returned to their respective seats. They looked at each other from a distance, and saw joy and a little surprise in each other's eyes. It seemed that neither of them had expected that the arranged marriage would go so smoothly, but finally they got what they wished for.