The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Chapter 102 Yunyang Cannot Be the Crown Princess

Inside the imperial carriage, Xia Chenghao maintained his gentle smile, but his peach blossom eyes were like deep pools, making it impossible to discern his emotions. He lifted his wine glass, took a sip, and casually asked, "Which princess has your majesty in mind for marriage? I'd like to make preparations early, so as not to neglect the princess. It would also help your princess understand that Xi Xiang, like the Great Zhou, cherishes her as a treasure, and that Xi Xiang is sincere in his intentions."

Chai Zhen laughed heartily, seemingly unaware of the probing tone in Xia Chenghao's words. He feigned deep emotion and said, "The women of the Great Zhou royal family have received a good education from a young age that most people haven't, and each of them is both talented and beautiful. It's just that..."

He paused, his eyes sweeping over Xia Chenghao, his voice full of meaning, "Your Highness may have heard that I only have one sister, Yunyang. She's been spoiled since childhood, and I'm afraid she'll have trouble adapting to the customs and practices of Xixiang. Therefore, I've asked the Prime Minister, my uncle Chai Zhengqi, to work with the Queen Mother and Empress to select more imperial ladies who are comparable to Yunyang in terms of qualifications, so as to accomplish the grand marriage between the two countries."

Xia Chenghao heard this, his smile unchanged, but he sneered in his heart: "Pretend, go ahead and pretend! Do you really think I can't see through your little tricks? Aren't you just trying to fool me with an unpopular princess?"

He put down his wine glass, lowered his eyes slightly to hide the cold light in his eyes, but his tone became more humble: "Your Majesty, you are joking. Princess Yunyang is of noble status and the only legitimate princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It would be an honor for me to marry her. As for whether the princess can adapt to the customs and people of Xixiang, I will take good care of her and will not let her suffer any grievances."

Chai Zhen cursed inwardly, "Old Fox," but remained expressionless. He smiled and said, "Your Highness, you're joking. If Yunyang knew how much Your Highness loved her, she would surely be very happy."

Xia Chenghao followed his words and casually asked, "Oh? From what Your Majesty said, Princess Yunyang hasn't been betrothed yet?"

Chai Zhen sneered in his heart. This kid was really trying to trick him! He picked up the wine glass without changing his expression and said lightly, "Yes, my sister has been spoiled since she was a child. She has very high standards and doesn't look down on ordinary people."

Xia Chenghao's eyes flickered when he heard this, and he calmly asked, "Then, in your opinion, what kind of person is worthy of Princess Yunyang?" Chai Zhen thought to himself: Are you worthy? But with a false smile on his face, he said meaningfully, "That's hard to say. It depends on Yunyang's own wishes." The two of them exchanged pleasantries, seemingly chatting and laughing, but in fact they were hiding their ulterior motives, each wanting to gain more benefits from the other.

At this time, in a teahouse a hundred meters away from the convoy, the members of the Qiming Group were closely watching every move in the imperial carriage.

"Sister Xiaoman, what do you think these two people are up to?" The speaker was Lu Fei, the most impatient "fighting king" in the Qiming group. He asked vaguely while gnawing on the chicken leg in his hand.

Sitting next to him was Xiaoman, the deputy leader of the Qiming Group's third team and one of the two women rescued by Cen Jiexiao. She was dressed in a sturdy outfit, looking heroic and holding a Wucheng telescope in her hand, pointing it in the direction of the imperial chariot.

Hearing Lu Fei's words, Xiaoman rolled her eyes at him and said unhappily, "Eat your chicken leg! You're the only one who talks too much!"

Lu Fei was choked by her words and immediately wilted like an eggplant hit by frost, but he was still mumbling, "I'm just curious..."

Xiaoman didn't bother to pay attention to him. She handed the "Wucheng Telescope" in her hand to the leader of Team 3, Wan Wuyi, who was sitting beside her. She said in a deep voice, "Team Leader Wan, do you think we need to record Chai Zhen and Xia Chenghao in the spy video?"

Wan Wuyi took the telescope and carefully observed the expressions of the two people in the imperial carriage, her brows slightly furrowed. Although she couldn't hear, they had been trained in lip reading and understood that the marriage seemed to be a done deal. However, judging by the subtle changes in their expressions, this matter was far from as simple as it seemed.

"It seems that the marriage between Da Zhou and Xi Xiang will be something that our Qiming team will have a lot of fun with!" Wan Wuyi put down the telescope and said with a cold snort.

"What's wrong? Sister Wuyi, what happened again?" When Lu Fei heard this, he immediately became alert and hurried over to ask.

"His Majesty the Emperor and Crown Prince Xixiang are discussing a marriage alliance..." Wan Wuyi interpreted the conversation between the two men in the imperial chariot through lip reading and briefly repeated it. He then sneered, "It's obvious that he wants to use a princess to appease Xixiang and buy time for the Great Zhou. What a brilliant plan!"

Wan Wuyi turned to look at Xiaoman, a strange look flashing in his eyes, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Xiaoman, the emperor's motorcade is moving slowly. You must hurry back and tell the dean that the marriage is settled. Ask her to make arrangements in advance. Oh, and the chosen one: Princess Yunyang!"

Xiaoman rushed back to Zhaoyin Academy, looking like she had just escaped from war. Without even bothering to tidy herself up, she went straight to Cen Jiexiao's study, panting heavily, "Dean, Dean! I have an urgent matter to report!"

Cen Jiexiao was writing something at her desk when she heard Xiaoman's flustered voice. She put down her brush and quickly gestured for Xiaoman to do it. She poured her a cup of tea and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Xiaoman, why are you so flustered? Have some tea first and talk slowly."

"Dean, the marriage is a done deal!" Xiaoman recovered her breath and said quickly, "Team Leader Wan saw with his own eyes that the Emperor and Prince Xixiang were discussing the selection of the marriage in the imperial carriage. They also said... and said..."

"What?" A trace of solemnity flashed across his brows.

"It is said that the candidate for this marriage is Princess Yunyang." Xiaoman couldn't help rolling her eyes and said indignantly when she said this.

Upon hearing this, Cen Jiexiao was stunned. Princess Yunyang? Wasn't that Emperor Chai Zhen's biological sister? She couldn't understand why Chai Zhen would be willing to marry his only biological sister to the barbaric land of Xixiang.

"Dean, this matter is strange in every way. What do you think the emperor is thinking?" Xiaoman couldn't help but ask when she saw Cen Jiexiao didn't say anything.

Cen Jiexiao did not answer. She lowered her head and thought for a moment. Suddenly, Li Lingxuan's charming face and her meaningful words to her flashed through her mind: "Dean Cen, don't forget the agreement between us! If I get what I want, I will not treat you and your Zhaoyin Academy unfairly, but if I..." At this point, she deliberately paused, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes.

Cen Jiexiao couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat as she thought of this. A sense of foreboding washed over her. No! She absolutely couldn't let Princess Yunyang go to Xixiang. She had to stop this!

"Xiao Man, you must hurry back and tell Wan Wuyi to stay in Qifeng and keep a close eye on the marriage. Also..." Cen Jiexiao paused, a cold glint in her eyes, "Find out all the information about Princess Yunyang. Absolutely!"

"Yes! Dean!" Xiaoman took the order and left, and the study returned to peace again.

Cen Jiexiao sat alone at the desk, carefully reading the files about the Great Zhou royal family by candlelight.

"Yunyang... Yunyang..." Sister Cen Xiao muttered to herself.