Marrying Wife and Concubine Together: After Rebirth, I Remarried the Scumbag's Father on the Sp

Chapter 1312 Sword Dance

A look of surprise flashed across Zhan Miao's pretty face. She asked in astonishment, "There are actually people who don't want to be queen?"

Just then, footsteps approached, and Zhan Qingning immediately became alert, standing in front of Zhan Miao.

The visitor was a maid from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. She bowed and said, "Your Highness, the madam requests your return. She says a noble lady wishes to perform a sword dance for you."

Zhan Miao nodded: "I understand, I'll go back now."

Upon returning to the banquet hall, they saw a woman dressed in a tight-fitting outfit standing in the center of the hall, holding a long sword. She was none other than Cheng Yanran, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo.

"Your Highness, my daughter Cheng Yanran is willing to perform a sword dance for you!" Cheng Yanran's voice was cold, and a hint of impatience flashed in her eyes.

Zhan Miao nodded slightly: "Okay."

Cheng Yanran immediately brandished her longsword, the sword flashing, her movements swift and agile, each motion clean and crisp, drawing cheers from the crowd. A hint of admiration flashed in Zhan Miao's eyes; Cheng Yanran was not only beautiful, but also skilled in both literature and martial arts, from a respectable family, and of upright character—a truly excellent candidate.

However, at the end of the dance, she couldn't hold onto the sword and fell to the ground with a thud.

She looked a little disheveled, and even her nice clothes were covered in dust.

Many noble ladies laughed loudly when they saw her like this, especially Liu Rumei, who laughed so hard she almost fell over.

She said disdainfully, "Cheng Yanran, since you haven't mastered swordsmanship, don't embarrass yourself by standing here!"

Cheng Yanran's face was pale and ashen. She struggled to her feet and said, "Your Highness, I have made a fool of myself. Please punish me!"

Unexpectedly, Zhan Miao smiled and said, "It was just a small mistake, Miss Cheng, you don't need to take it to heart. Your sword dance was truly excellent. This princess will only reward you, and will never punish you!"

After saying that, she instructed the maid beside her to present Cheng Yanran with the prepared gift.

That was a valuable sapphire bracelet, which could also be considered a token of being a candidate for queen.

Upon seeing this, Liu Rumei's eyes reddened with jealousy. She couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, Cheng Yanran only performed an ordinary sword dance. What's so praiseworthy about it? In my opinion, she doesn't deserve your bracelet at all!"

Cheng Yanran's expression changed, and she glared at Liu Rumei: "Liu Rumei, don't talk nonsense!"

Liu Rumei scoffed, "Do you think I can't see that you made a mistake on purpose? You look down on the princess, you didn't even want to attend this banquet, am I wrong?"

The two immediately started arguing, and the banquet hall descended into chaos.

Zhan Miao frowned and interrupted sharply, "Shut up!"

Liu Rumei and Cheng Yanran immediately stopped arguing, lowered their heads, and dared not say another word.

Zhan Miao's icy gaze swept across the room: "Today's banquet is for me, the princess, to make friends. If anyone dares to make a scene here again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

The entire room fell silent instantly, everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet Zhan Miao's gaze.

Zhan Miao nodded in satisfaction and looked at the Duchess of Zhenguo: "Madam, let's end the banquet here today. Thank you for your hard work."

"Your Highness, you are too kind." The Duchess of Zhenguo quickly bowed in greeting.

Zhan Miao took Zhan Qingning's arm and turned to leave. Once outside the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Zhan Qingning said, "Miao'er, today's harvest was quite substantial, but I'm afraid Liu Rumei and the others won't let this go easily."

Zhan Miao's eyes were deep: "What's there to be afraid of? As long as I can find a suitable queen for my brother, I don't care how many people I offend!"

The carriage slowly drove away from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and disappeared into the night.

Inside the banquet hall, Liu Rumei watched Zhan Miao's departing figure, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes: "Zhan Miao, you just wait, I will definitely not let you have your way!"

The carriage had barely traveled half a mile from the Duke of Zhenguo's residence when the curtain was suddenly gently knocked on. Zhan Qingning lifted the curtain and saw Cheng Yanran's personal maid kneeling by the roadside in a panic: "Your Highness, my lady begs you to stop!"

Zhan Miao signaled the driver to stop the car. Cheng Yanran quickly caught up, lifting her skirt. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and there were still traces of tears on her face. She was completely different from the dashing figure she had at the banquet.

She walked to the carriage, bowed deeply towards the inside, and said in a choked voice, "Your Highness, please take back the sapphire bracelet!"

Zhan Miao raised an eyebrow, gesturing for her to get in the car and explain in detail.

After Cheng Yanran settled down, she took out the shimmering sapphire bracelet from her bosom, held it in both hands and handed it back, her eyes reddening: "This token is too precious, I cannot accept it."

Zhan Miao lightly tapped the car wall with his fingertip, his tone tinged with inquiry: "Your spirited sword dance at the banquet just now was quite different from this. What, are you afraid of Liu Rumei's gossip?"

Cheng Yanran hurriedly shook her head, tears finally streaming down her face: "Your Majesty, I already have someone I love. I came to this banquet only because my family forced me to. I did not truly want to run for the position of Queen. This bracelet is a token for Your Majesty's selection of the Queen. I cannot deceive Your Highness, nor can I delay His Majesty's decision!"

Zhan Qingning was taken aback upon hearing this, then her eyes flashed with understanding. No wonder she made a mistake at the end; there was a hidden reason behind it.

Zhan Miao suddenly laughed, took the bracelet, and played with it in his palm, his fingertips tracing the cool gemstones: "You're quite frank. Tell me, who is the person you love?"

Cheng Yanran bit her lip and whispered, "It's Shen Ce, the military officer stationed at the border. We've known each other since childhood and have already pledged our lives to each other. However, General Shen's position is low, and my father has always disagreed with this marriage. He even forced me to participate in the imperial selection, hoping to use the position of queen to climb the social ladder and gain access to the imperial power."

At this point, she suddenly looked up, her eyes resolute: "Your Highness, Shen Ce and I are deeply in love, and I would rather die than enter the palace as Empress. Accepting your bracelet today is already a deception; if I were to continue down this path, my conscience would not be at peace!"

Zhan Miao looked at the resolute look in her eyes and felt a slight stirring in her heart. She knew all too well that a forced marriage would ultimately not bring happiness.

Thinking of this, she put away the bracelet and softened her tone: "This princess dislikes forcing people to do things against their will. Since you already have someone you love, you should naturally take this bracelet back."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yanran's face immediately lit up with joy, and she kowtowed deeply to Zhan Miao: "Thank you so much, Your Highness! I will never forget your kindness!"

Zhan Miao reached out to help her up, "But I'm afraid it won't be easy to explain to your father."

Mentioning this matter, Cheng Yanran's expression darkened again: "After I return, I will confess to my father. At worst, I will be confined to the mansion. It is better than harming His Majesty and myself."

Zhan Miao pondered for a moment, then took out a jade pendant from his bosom and handed it to her: "This is my personal jade pendant. Take it back with you. If your father continues to pressure you, let him come see me."

Cheng Yanran accepted the jade pendant, tears of gratitude streaming down her face: "Thank you so much, Your Highness!"

After seeing Cheng Yanran off, Zhan Qingning said worriedly, "Meow, isn't it a waste of all our efforts to just take back the token like this? Besides, Cheng Yanran comes from a respectable family and is of good character; she is the perfect candidate to be the Queen."