Chapter 147 Have We Met Before?

As the voice faded away, everyone exchanged glances in bewilderment.

The horse's coat was extremely dense. Let alone estimating visually, even counting hair by hair would take until the end of time with no end in sight.

The Third Prince spoke with displeasure, "Is the envoy deliberately making things difficult? Can you possibly tell how many hairs this horse has?"

The envoy cupped his hands and replied, "This official is of limited talent and shallow learning, and naturally cannot do it. I simply thought that the Heavenly Dynasty is a place where dragons hide and tigers crouch, and surely someone could resolve this puzzle for me. Of course, if no one can solve it, then it would seem I overestimated the realm."

By repeatedly addressing them as the "Heavenly Dynasty," his intention was to elevate them high only to drop them heavily, aiming to gain the upper hand in the subsequent negotiations and secure advantageous terms.

The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, a deep displeasure flashing in the depths of his gaze.

Clearly, they were an envoy from a defeated nation coming to sue for peace, yet they still deliberately created such difficulties, showing a distinct lack of sincerity.

Silence fell over the banquet for a moment. Then, Wusun Ang, a prince of the Beili Kingdom, burst into loud laughter, "It seems it is all the same. The so-called vast and mighty empire is nothing much after all."

Such words were deeply provocative. Si Moliyan spoke in a cold voice, "What if someone can tell?"

Wusun Ang frowned. Naturally, he recognized that the speaker was Prince Li, the very man who had driven their forces back step by step in past battles, "Prince Li better not just be making empty boasts."

Si Moliyan's expression was icy. "A defeated general dares to chatter so much? This prince reckons that this horse has precisely fifty thousand, seven hundred and twenty-one more hairs than your entire body."

The Beili prince clenched his fists in fury. To think he was being compared to a beast!

He gritted his teeth, wanting to hurl curses, but he understood that this was not the time for rashness.

The envoy was dumbfounded. With such a precise and odd number, it sounded as if Si Moliyan actually knew the exact count. "Your Highness, this..."

"What? Is this prince wrong?" Si Moliyan let out a cold snort. "Since the envoy does not believe it, you might as well take the Eldest Prince and the horse back to your country and count them properly."

Hearing Prince Li put it this way, some people below couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The Sixth Prince burst into outright laughter, "The envoy had better count carefully. Don't miss even a single hair and then blame us for getting it wrong."

The envoy's face turned alternating shades of green and white. They were here to negotiate peace; this was a warning that if they continued to stir up trouble, they would return empty-handed. Furthermore, it was impossible for him to actually go and count the hairs on the Eldest Prince's body.

Feeling extremely awkward, he quickly changed the subject, "Prince Li is truly exceptionally brilliant. To express our apologies, our country's princess has prepared a dance, and we hope everyone will enjoy it."

The Emperor's mood improved considerably. He glanced at Si Moliyan and then nodded at the envoy.

The little princess, who had remained silent all this time, stepped forward. She wore a specially crafted crimson dance costume that made her skin look even more snow-white. As the flutes and zithers suddenly struck up, she began to dance with a sharp, decisive spin. Amidst the fluttering of her garments, her graceful and enchanting figure was fully revealed. The crisp, ethereal sound of the bells around her ankles added a unique, exotic charm.

When the dance ended, she knelt to pay her respects. As she lifted her head, her gaze was burning and bold, and her voice rang out clear and bright, "Wusun Anya has a wish. I wonder if Your Majesty might grant Anya a marriage decree today?"

Although they knew the Beili princess had come with the intention of marriage alliance, such directness still startled everyone, pulling them out of the spell of the wonderful dance just moments before.

The Emperor laughed heartily and said, "The princess is truly bold and unrestrained. But I wonder which young talent has caught the princess's eye?"

Shen Qingyun's brow twitched, and an ominous feeling welled up within her.

Surely, she couldn't have actually been cursed by Pearl's jinxed mouth?

They saw Wusun Anya's face flush with a red glow, looking somewhat embarrassed as her voice lowered, "Anya earnestly begs Your Majesty to grant a marriage decree between General Xiao Jue and myself."

Shen Qingyun looked at Xiao Jue in astonishment. Not just her, but many others wore expressions of utter puzzlement.

They had all assumed that this Wusun Anya would surely request a marriage with one of the princes; who could have expected that she had taken a fancy to Xiao Jue!

After all, Xiao Jue was already nearly forty years old, while Wusun Anya was only in her teens. Chronologically, Xiao Jue was much older than her.

The Emperor also wore a hesitant expression.

Seeing this, and fearing the Emperor would refuse, Wusun Anya hurriedly added, "Anya once witnessed General Xiao Jue's dashing and heroic bearing, and thus grew to admire him. I wish only to marry him, and I hope Your Majesty will fulfill this wish."

Xiao Jue's face turned livid. He never imagined such an unprovoked disaster would fall upon his head.

Han Rou's health had visibly improved, and he had originally planned to ask the Emperor for a marriage decree in the next few days. Who could have known this princess would leap out halfway?

He stood up directly, walked before the Emperor, and fell to his knees. "Your Majesty, the age gap between this subject and the princess is far too great; it is truly inappropriate. The princess is still young and acting on a momentary impulse. I hope Your Majesty will choose a better match for her instead."

Wusun Anya had not expected Xiao Jue to reject her so publicly. She stood up abruptly, turned toward Xiao Jue, and said, "General Xiao, Anya's admiration for you is genuine; it is no momentary impulse."

She had always admired the strong. She had long since heard of Xiao Jue's great reputation, and upon hearing others say that Xiao Jue had never taken any wives or concubines—unlike her own father and brothers who were surrounded by harems—she grew deeply curious about him. Later, she had sneaked out and caught a distant glimpse of Xiao Jue riding atop a warhorse, looking dashing and heroic, which immediately stirred her heart.

She didn't actually have to come on this peace mission, but thinking of Xiao Jue, she had taken her sister's place.

Shouldn't men all like young women? She was a beauty of peerless looks, so how could Xiao Jue possibly look down on her? Impossible!

A complex emotion flickered in the Emperor's eyes. "Princess, a forced melon is not sweet. Since General Xiao is unwilling, a forced marriage will only result in a pair of resentful spouses. Let us discuss this another day. The princess may stay in the capital for a few more days; perhaps you will find someone more suitable."

Wusun Anya looked disgruntled. She suppressed the feeling of humiliation in her heart and acknowledged the command. Then, turning back to Xiao Jue with an unyielding look, she said, "General Xiao, I am unfamiliar with the capital. I hope the General can show me around."

She refused to believe that after more contact, Xiao Jue would still reject her.

Yet Xiao Jue did not even spare her a glance. "I have official duties to attend to. The princess should seek someone else."

Just as Wusun Anya wanted to pester him further, Wusun Ang pulled her away. The courtiers made a few lighthearted remarks to smooth the matter over and moved past it.

When the imperial banquet dispersed, Xiao Jue anxiously sought out Shen Qingyun. "Qingyun, you must not misunderstand. I have no acquaintance whatsoever with that so-called princess. You must help me explain this properly to your mother."

Shen Qingyun smiled amusedly and nodded.

Seeing Xiao Jue speaking to a beautiful woman, Wusun Anya was consumed by jealousy. As she passed Shen Qingyun, she deliberately bumped into her.

A handkerchief fell from Shen Qingyun's hand to the ground. Frowning slightly, she was about to bend down to pick it up when a hand reached out first, retrieved the handkerchief, and handed it back to her.

It was one of the Beili envoys' attendants, trailing right at the very back of Wusun Anya's entourage.

"Thank you," Shen Qingyun politely expressed her gratitude.

Seeing the person's dark eyes staring straight at her, a familiar feeling surged into her heart. She experienced a sudden trace of distraction and couldn't help asking softly, "Have we met somewhere before?"