Li Wen nodded, then turned to head back toward the palace. Only then did Ning Shu let out a sigh of relief. She had finally managed to demonstrate some of her value to Li Wen. Hopefully, this would make him hesitate when the topic of the peace marriage came up.
Still, a heaviness lingered in her heart. Whether she could complete her mission depended largely on how the marriage issue unfolded.
In reality, she had nearly fulfilled her task. Do not love Duan Xinghui? Check. Ensure that Duan Xinghui and Er Ya, that wretched couple, don't find happiness? That was well underway. If things continued along this path, more barriers would arise between Er Ya and Duan Xinghui, making their relationship increasingly miserable.
In the original storyline, Er Ya only gained Madame Duan's acceptance after saving a marquess and being elevated in status. But now, with Yuan Dong meddling in Duan Residence's affairs, Er Ya was effectively trapped inside the residence, forced to stay in and learn etiquette every day.
Once Er Ya became bound by those rigid rules, making every move according to propriety, would Duan Xinghui still harbor feelings for her? Hahaha…
As Ning Shu had anticipated, it wasn't long before the Huns delegation arrived in the capital. This time, it was King Han's second son, the second prince of the plains.
This was the man the original host had married. Having heard about how she had ruined her reputation in an attempt to snatch another man, he held a very poor impression of her. After their marriage, he had treated her cruelly.
The Huns lived without a sense of propriety, justice, or honor. Women were regarded as mere commodities. Although the original host became the second prince's wife, her experience was marked by degradation, as he and his brothers shared her, subjecting her to humiliation.
It was a veritable den of devils. Ning Shu felt her body involuntarily tremble upon hearing the second prince's name, echoing the original host's fear and resentment. The predominant feeling was fear; after enduring such torment, the original host had come to react to the second prince like a mouse does to a cat—convinced that death was imminent.
Ning Shu clenched her fists. No matter what, she could not allow herself to be married off. If that happened, how could she help the original host fight back? To alter the original host's fate, she needed to change the outcome of this moment.
As in the original storyline, the Huns delegation proposed a peace marriage, demanding that the bride be Great Yong's only Princess Jiahui.
All the ministers advocated for the marriage of Ning Shu, but Li Wen remained silent. He seemed to agree with the idea while also appearing reluctant. This indecision annoyed the Huns delegation, but they dared not show it openly.
This was to be expected; after all, this was the great power of the storyline. Despite Ning Shu's reputation remaining untarnished—having not been embroiled in a scandal as a respectable princess attempting to steal a man from another woman—she could not escape the fate of being married off.
Cannon fodder supporting female leads were indeed pitiable. What could she do now? All she could do was suppress her tears, stand tall, and keep working hard.
One silver lining was that Li Wen didn't immediately acquiesce to the marriage proposal. It was clear that her efforts with the sweet potatoes had raised her value in his eyes, at least somewhat.
Focusing on winning Li Wen's favor had proven to be the right strategy. Living in proximity to the Emperor, who wielded ultimate control over the country, meant she needed to be attuned to his thoughts. It seemed she had made a wise bet.
Once the delegation settled in the capital, Ning Shu was left speechless when the second prince himself came to visit her at the Princess Residence. She had only one word to say: scram.
His lack of etiquette was astounding. What would others think if he visited her like this? They would assume she was already involved with him. This second prince was truly treacherous and malicious.
Ning Shu didn't hesitate to think the worst of him. In the original host's memories, the second prince was as ruthless and cunning as the wild wolves of the prairie. The torment he inflicted on the original host surpassed the limits of human endurance.
Jiahui, the original host, had been tormented to death within two years.
Ning Shu resolved to remain hidden in the residence, refusing to go out. The second prince left without ever seeing Princess Jiahui, returning in disappointment, having heard rumors of her beauty.