Back at Zhaoyang Palace, Granny Zhang, her personal maid, hurried over. After greeting the princess, she nodded at her anxiously.
“Princess, you’re finally back. I bribed the nanny in the Empress’s palace and heard that the Empress has the intention to betroth you to her nephew as his wife. Although her nephew hasn’t married yet, he’s already more than twenty years older than you. Moreover, his looks and abilities are very mediocre. He’s from a famous poor family. You have to quickly beg His Majesty for mercy…”
Granny Zhang was the wet nurse left behind by the late empress for Princess Zhaoyang and was the most loyal to her. She sounded like she was about to cry.
Although Zhaoyang was a princess, her mother had passed away early and the empress was her stepmother. It was obvious that she wanted to marry the princess of the royal family to her nephew.
Even if those with discerning eyes could tell that it was inappropriate, who would speak up for a twelve-year-old princess whose mother had died early and her brother had been crippled? Moreover, the Empress was the princess’s stepmother, so she naturally had the right to arrange her marriage. This was clearly bullying her for being young and ignorant without any backing.
Zhaoyang’s face was so red that it looked like it was going to drip blood, and her eyes were filled with rage. However, she knew that ever since the Second Prince had fallen off the horse and died, her father had always felt extremely guilty towards the Empress. Whenever she cried and mentioned the Second Prince, her father would always take pity on her.
Daughter? Her brother’s meridians were broken and he was sent to the Wilderness because he did not obey his father’s orders. He was never allowed to return to the palace. Her brother was still the crown prince at that time while she was just a princess.
“Got it. Granny Zhang, go find out more. When is the Empress going to ask His Majesty for an imperial decree? I might as well rely on myself…”
The twelve-year-old Zhaoyang pursed her lips tightly and didn’t say anything else. She touched the three hundred pills that her brother had given her and suddenly turned around to go to the training room.
The doors of the Zhaoyang Palace were closed, and Princess Zhaoyang didn’t even greet the Empress. This made the Empress very unhappy.
During the palace banquet tonight, His Majesty mentioned that Zhaoyang was old and rules had to be set. She had a nephew in her maiden family who was upright. He had never married before and was compatible with Zhaoyang’s birth characters. They could form a good relationship.
The other princes and princesses who heard these words at the palace banquet were all stunned, but they lowered their heads and didn’t say anything. Even Zhaoyang herself wasn’t here, so who would help her speak up and offend the Empress?
The Third Prince’s mother even fawned over the Empress. “Your Majesty is truly benevolent and thoughtful!”
The Empress nodded in a reserved manner. Then, she turned around and whispered something to the Emperor. She even mentioned the Second Prince who had fallen off his horse. The Emperor was moved by her sorrowful expression.
Just as he was about to deliver his oral decree, he saw a well-dressed Zhaoyang walk over. Although she was young, her temperament was unparalleled. Her face was like fine jade that emitted a faint luster.
When His Majesty raised his head and saw Zhaoyang, his face lit up. He heard Princess Zhaoyang kneel down and greet him.
“Zhaoyang has not let down your expectations. I have already become an intermediate martial artist!”
Zhaoyang’s voice was loud and clear, causing everyone at the palace banquet to be endlessly shocked. There were martial artists above the intermediary stage that deliberately swept their eyes over Zhaoyang and then turned pale with fright.
The twelve-year-old Princess Zhaoyang was truly a genius. She had actually advanced to the intermediary stage at such a young age. She was probably the first person in the entire Northern Kingdom.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. It is already very rare for Princess Zhaoyang to advance to a third-grade martial artist three months earlier. I didn’t expect her aptitude to be so good. She advanced to a fourth-grade martial artist in just three months. I have never seen such a thing in my life. It is truly a joyous occasion for our Northern Kingdom…”
Not only were the Empress, concubines and princes present at the palace banquet, but there were also some royal relatives and officials who had contributed greatly to the imperial court.
In the past, there were several princes that were said to be of noble birth. However, it took them two to three years to advance from a third-grade martial artist to an intermediate fourth-grade martial artist. Not only that, but even the former Crown Prince, who had the best talent in the past, also became a fourth-grade martial artist at fifteen years of age.
The current Third Prince was already eighteen years old, but he was still a third-grade martial artist. He had been stuck at third-grade for six years and had yet to advance to fourth-grade.
The twelve year old Princess Zhaoyang was even stronger than the Third Prince. Pure Consort’s face had darkened when she heard this!
In the Northern Kingdom, martial arts was the most important thing. Although princesses were honorable, if her aptitude was mediocre, like the Eldest Princess who had been a second-grade martial artist all her life, she would live like a transparent person. She would only be able to enjoy some glory, splendor, and wealth, and become a sacrifice for the royal family’s marriage.
As for a twelve year old fourth-grade martial artist, let alone being a princess, even an ordinary person with this sort of talent would be respected as a superior person, becoming a proud son of heaven.
The Emperor of Northern Kingdom was very happy as he listened to the praises of Princess Zhaoyang from the ministers of the court. He looked at Princess Zhaoyang differently and even personally went to support her. He held her hand and brought her to sit beside him. A twelve-year-old cultivation genius was actually his youngest daughter, hahaha!
“Father, Zhaoyang is dedicated to martial arts and wants to become an advanced martial artist. I don’t want to get married early. I beg for your approval!”
At this time, Zhaoyang was standing beside the Emperor, everyone was looking up at her when she said these words because she was standing at a high position. The Empress was so angry that the corners of her mouth were almost crooked.
Just as she was about to mention the Second Prince who had fallen off his horse and died to His Majesty, she saw the Emperor glaring at her fiercely. The Empress was so frightened that she immediately swallowed her words.
“Permission granted. Haha, a twelve year old fourth-grade martial artist is a blessing to the royal family. In the future, you only need to focus on cultivation. If there is nothing important, even the Empress cannot disturb Princess Zhaoyang…”
When His Majesty said this, the Empress’s face turned the color of pig liver.
In contrast, Princess Zhaoyang, who was sitting next to His Majesty, was smiling.
Although she was young, she remembered her vow to her brother. She had to make her brother return to the royal palace. Because in this world, she only had one family member. Her brother.
After the palace banquet, Princess Zhaoyang’s reputation soared. She became the youngest fourth-grade martial artist in the Northern Kingdom for nearly a hundred years. She also became the true proud son of heaven in the eyes of countless martial artists.
Granny Zhang of Zhaoyang Palace walked with the wind. All the servants serving Princess Zhaoyang were fawned upon.
Princess Zhaoyang, who was alone in the training room, took out her pills and counted them one by one.
“Brother, I want to become stronger. I want you to return to the palace. You are the Crown Prince of the Northern Kingdom…” Zhaoyang smiled as she looked at the two hundred plus medicinal pills in her hands!
Li Yuanqing in the Wilderness knew about the news of Zhaoyang advancing to a fifth-grade martial artist a year later. Princess Zhaoyang had become a fifth-grade martial artist when she was thirteen years old. That was since the founding of the Northern Kingdom.
The name of the youngest fifth-grade martial artist, Princess Zhaoyang, spread throughout the entire Northern Kingdom. Even when Wang Shun delivered food to Li Yuanqing, he was telling him about Princess Zhaoyang enviously!