Chapter 214 - 214 212 No Benefit At All_1

Chapter 214: Chapter 212: No Benefit At All_1 Chapter 214: Chapter 212: No Benefit At All_1 Inside the luxurious carriage of Xiliang.

Princess Li Tianfu wore a thin veil, revealing only her charming eyes. She lay languidly inside the fragrant carriage, clutching a storybook Li Zhijie had collected for her from various kingdoms, distracted and seemingly preoccupied.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince of Jin and the God of Slaughter, Young General Bai, have both arrived. King Yan requests that you prepare immediately and head over. If you’re late, the Crown Prince of Jin might take offense.” The Xiliang eunuch spoke softly to Li Tianfu from outside the fragrant carriage.

Upon hearing this, Li Tianfu’s anger flared. She furiously threw the storybook in her hand. The spine of the book struck the pure gold auspicious beast incense burner on the wooden table, making a “clang” sound.

The palace maids inside the fragrant carriage immediately knelt down, trembling and not daring to speak.

Li Tianfu’s spoiled and angry voice came out from inside the carriage. “Take offense?! I see that Li Zhijie has been beaten to submission by the Jin Kingdom. I, the dignified legitimate princess of Xiliang, even if I don’t show up today, who can do anything to me? The Crown Prince of Jin arrives and immediately wants me to tidy up and present myself to him? He seems to have forgotten how my father passed away! I have no idea why my Empress Sister chose him to negotiate peace! He has disgraced us before other countries!”

The legitimate Princess of Xiliang, pampered by the Emperor and Empress since childhood, had never endured such grievances. Her eyes reddened instantly.

She had hundreds of reasons not to want to come for the marriage alliance. But her mother said that Xiliang and Nanyan had conspired to attack Jin first, and later, Jin defeated them with fewer troops. If they didn’t cede land or pay indemnities, a marriage alliance was inevitable. It was better for her to marry than sending an envoy.

Her mother also said that men conquer the world, and women conquer men. As long as she could win the favor of the Crown Prince of Jin, once he ascended the throne and she gave birth to a Crown Prince with Xiliang blood, Jin would essentially belong to Xiliang as well.

But why should it be her? She and her Empress Sister were both legitimate daughters from the same mother. Although she wasn’t as wise as her sister and couldn’t inherit the throne, when her sister inherited the throne, she at least deserved to be granted a title. Why should she have to marry for political peace?

The more she thought, the more aggrieved she felt. Li Tianfu simply nestled in the carriage without moving, tears welling up in her eyes. “Go and tell Li Zhijie that this princess is sick. If the Crown Prince of Jin wants to see me, let him come here personally!”

“Your Highness…” Lu Tianzhuo’s voice came from outside the carriage. “This servant knows that this matter has greatly wronged you. It’s understandable for you to be angry.”

Upon hearing Lu Tianzhuo’s voice, Li Tianfu quickly sat up. Her slender, jade-like fingers lifted the curtain of the fragrant carriage. Seeing the handsome and elegant Lu Tianzhuo standing outside the carriage, her eyes, already filled with mist, began to shed large tears.

“Your Highness, no matter how angry you are, you must endure it for the greater good…” Lu Tianzhuo raised his head and saw Li Tianfu’s tearful eyes staring at him sorrowfully. His heart ached slightly. Lowering his eyes, he took out a clean folded handkerchief from his chest and handed it to Li Tianfu with both hands.

Li Tianfu bit her lower lip, grabbed the handkerchief, released the curtain cord she was holding, and began wiping her tears with the handkerchief.

As she faintly smelled the scent of magnolia lingering on the handkerchief from Lu Tianzhuo, Li Tianfu felt somewhat calmer. She sternly ordered the palace maids inside the carriage, “All of you, get out! Lu Tianzhuo, come in and make some tea!”

Outside the carriage, Lu Tianzhuo clenched his hands and nodded. “Yes!”

Li Tianfu glared at the kneeling palace maids inside the carriage. “Hurry up and get out!”

The palace maids immediately complied and exited the carriage obediently.

“Master Lu, please…” Li Tianfu’s personal maid respectfully bowed to Lu Tianzhuo.

Everyone knew that Lu Tianzhuo was a eunuch. So, no one thought much of him being alone with the princess inside the carriage.

Lu Tianzhuo lifted the hem of his long robe and calmly entered the carriage. After kneeling to salute Li Tianfu, he had someone bring water to cleanse his hands before personally preparing tea for her.

Li Tianfu leaned on a round pillow, watching the graceful and elegant Lu Tianzhuo heat the tea set with the teapot from the small stove. With a genuine display of making tea for her, she could no longer contain herself and rushed into Lu Tianzhuo’s arms. Caught off guard, Lu Tianzhuo’s back hit the wooden board, making the teaware on the table clatter.

Outside the carriage, the palace maids lowered their heads, pretending not to hear.

Inside the carriage, Li Tianfu wrapped her arms around Lu Tianzhuo’s neck and kissed him through her veil. Her tears flowed unchecked like broken strands.

Lu Tianzhuo swallowed hard and cautiously grasped Li Tianfu’s shoulders, gently pushing her away. His deep eyes filled with unhidden pain. He lowered his voice. “Your Highness, I… I am a eunuch. I am unworthy of you! Please, forget about me!”

“How can I forget?!” Li Tianfu’s voice choked with sobs as she tearfully tore at Lu Tianzhuo’s clothes. “When you taught me about love between a man and a woman, why didn’t you tell me you were a eunuch?! Today, this princess wants you!”

Lu Tianzhuo’s chest was exposed as his clothes were torn. He grasped Li Tianfu’s hands, his eyes reddening as he choked out, “Your Highness, I am a eunuch. Do you really want to humiliate me like this? I only wish for you to have a true man as your husband. Please, leave me some dignity.”

Although Li Tianfu’s requests were numerous, how could Lu Tianzhuo allow her to see his incomplete body in front of the woman he loved?

If there was anything to hate, he hated that he was no longer a complete man.

But if he hadn’t become a eunuch and entered the Xiliang Imperial Palace, how would he have met Li Tianfu?

Li Tianfu’s tearful eyes glared at Lu Tianzhuo, but gradually, her anger turned into sorrowful grievance.

“How can you be so heartless?!” Li Tianfu cried uncontrollably, her heart filled with resentment. Her eyes fell on Lu Tianzhuo’s torn collar. Without thinking, she bit into his shoulder.

Lu Tianzhuo gasped in pain, taking a sharp breath. Seizing the moment, Li Tianfu freed her hands, straddled Lu Tianzhuo, and hugged him tightly. Her mouth filled with the taste of blood, but she refused to let go.

Lu Tianzhuo’s nostrils flared. The pain in his shoulder couldn’t compare to the pain in his heart. Unable to resist, he gently wrapped his arms around Li Tianfu’s slim waist, soothing her trembling back with his warm palms. He allowed her to bite him in an attempt to calm her emotions. “Once you’ve had your fill of anger, go and deal with them! I will wait here for you.”

Her fierce biting eventually turned into low sobbing. Li Tianfu’s cries, like those of a young beast, were filled with resentment and anguish that she didn’t know whom to tell.

Inside the lavish tent, drums and music played loud. The lights shone brightly, and dancers performed gracefully as the Crown Prince and Li Zhijie exchanged drinks.

Li Zhijie’s peach blossom eyes never strayed far from Bai Qingyan, even causing the Crown Prince to notice and feel displeased.

King Yan of Xiliang, Li Zhijie, had not yet taken a principal wife. Could it be that he had his sights set on Bai Qingyan? If Bai Qingyan were to marry into Xiliang, it would be detrimental to Jin. This, he was sure, his father would understand as well.