Chapter 151: 151 Marriage Alliance

The atmosphere of the Wushan Castle anniversary and the mood for offering birthday congratulations to Lulansi have already built up.

A large number of flags and colorful banners have been hung around the castle, displaying the crest and status of Wushan Castle;

The gardeners have long since taken care of the flowers, plants, tapestries, and murals, and the invited music and dance troupes are also in place, currently conducting rehearsals.

There are quite a few nobles moving about on Lulansi's side, but they do not stay for long; most just offer a greeting, exchange a few polite words, and then leave.

Seeing Luoning arrive alone, Lulansi, draped in a magic wolf fur coat, sat in a soft chair. "I had originally intended to have Moste find you in a while, but I didn't expect you to come on your own initiative. It just so happens I have something I want to discuss with you."

Luoning was somewhat surprised; he had come intending to slightly hint at his desire for the Sain Territory, not expecting Lulansi to have something to discuss with him as well.

"Grandfather, please speak."

"Calculating the time, Princess Blanche should arrive at Wushan Castle tomorrow morning. When that time comes, you are to take some people to receive her."

Uh...

Luoning was stunned; he never expected it to be this matter.

Blanche is the youngest daughter of Auduin V, His Majesty Bruno. Luoning recalled that the other party seems to be eighteen years old this year?

"I didn't expect the Royal Family to send someone to attend your birthday as well."

"What, do you look down on your grandfather?"

Lulansi laughed, "At the very least, I am a top-tier noble of the Auduin Royal Family. There is no problem with His Majesty arranging for a princess to come and offer me a few words of blessing, is there?"

Luoning certainly did not doubt Lulansi's status; he only had the question because, in previous years, it seemed rare for members of the Royal Family to come for Lulansi's birthday.

And what puzzled him even more was why Lulansi had specifically designated him to receive her.

"The castle's reception seems to be hosted by Daianni and Buleidun. For a Baron of Shanlin Town like me to receive a princess seems a bit inappropriate, doesn't it?"

"Rest assured, I have already spoken with your father and Daianni; they will cooperate with you."

Lulansi gave a mysterious smile, "Blanche is eighteen this year. At her age, she should have already been married for two years, but unfortunately, both of her marriage partners, Camelo and Oleg, succumbed to illness and passed away."

Luoning raised an eyebrow. Good heavens, having two consecutive marriage partners die—if this were in ancient China, she would absolutely end up with the reputation of a husband-killer.

"Who are Camelo and Oleg?"

Luoning was very curious about the background of these two marriage partners, but he had no information about them in his mind.

But he figured that to be able to marry a royal princess, their status and background would absolutely not be low.

"They were the eldest grandson and second-eldest grandson of Grand Duke Waerjisi."

As expected... they had quite the pedigree.

The Auduin Kingdom has only three duchies in total: the Jisitana Duchy, the Feilunsibao Principality, and the Vila Principality, which has only existed for thirty years.

Waerjisi is the master of the Jisitana Duchy in the far west of the Kingdom.

The only thing Luoning did not expect was that these two dead marriage partners were actually from the same family—they were brothers.

Lulansi sighed, "With the marriage failing, and both cases being the groom dying of an accidental illness, logically speaking, Blanche could still very smoothly marry into another noble family. His Majesty the King had even prepared to bestow her in marriage to Grand Duke Waerjisi's third grandson, Jianuo, but unfortunately, some rumors circulating outside prevented this marriage from happening."

The corner of Luoning's mouth twitched involuntarily.

Good heavens, His Majesty the King must be at odds with Grand Duke Waerjisi, to actually bestow a daughter upon three of his grandsons in succession.

If this betrothal were to go through, and then the one called "Jianuo" died as well, wouldn't Grand Duke Waerjisi hate the King to death?

"Do you want to know what the rumors outside are?" Lulansi asked.

Luoning thought for a moment and said tentatively, "It wouldn't be the rumor that Princess Blanche is a husband-killer, would it?"

"Hahaha, although it isn't phrased exactly like that, it means much the same thing."

Lulansi laughed, "Those rumors say that whoever marries Blanche will die."

Sure enough, this kind of talk exists in this other world too.

It is mainly because these two betrothals were too magical; Waerjisi lost two grandsons, so he is likely unwilling to continue risking a third.

If something went wrong, wouldn't that mean the end of his line?

To tell the truth, under the monogamous system, it is already very rare for the Jisitana family to have three grandsons.

However, Luoning does not quite believe in such things; he is more inclined to believe that there is someone in the shadows who does not want this marriage to be completed smoothly.

Of course, there is also a possibility that Camelo and Oleg really did die from accidental illnesses.

Wait!

Luoning suddenly realized a very serious problem; the look in his eyes as he watched Lulansi became more apprehensive.

"That... Grandfather, Princess Blanche coming to Wushan Territory to wish you a happy birthday—it wouldn't be because she wants to marry me, would it?"

It really is possible; otherwise, why would Lulansi tell him so much, and even specifically arrange for him to receive her?

"Hahaha!"

Lulansi began to laugh, "What, are you afraid?"

Hearing the affirmative answer, Luoning was completely stunned.

Although marriage alliances are a very common phenomenon among nobles, he truly did not expect this matter to happen to him, and so suddenly at that—he had no preparation at all.

"This joke is not funny at all."

Luoning wore a bitter expression, "That Princess Blanche has already had two marriage experiences; wouldn't it be inappropriate to assign her to me?"

"Rest assured about that. Whether it was Camelo or Oleg, Princess Blanche didn't even meet them more than a few times, let alone fall in love."

Lulansi said, "As for the 'husband-killer' phenomenon you just mentioned, you don't need to worry about it. Before the marriages, both of them were already in poor health; their short lifespans had nothing to do with Blanche."

Clearly, Lulansi was serious.

Luoning frowned; was he being subjected to an arranged marriage?

Lulansi noticed Luoning's expression, "You seem somewhat unwilling?"

Luoning did not answer directly, but instead said, "This matter is too sudden; I am not prepared."

Lulansi nodded.

"It is indeed a bit sudden. I only sent word to His Majesty Bruno after you last came to Wushan Castle; the timing is very rushed."

He shifted the tone of his words, "But this is very necessary, whether for the Wushan Family or for your future, it is very necessary."

Luoning revealed a thoughtful look.

In the nearly two months since Lulansi sent word to the royal court, he estimated that Bruno had sent Blanche over almost without a second thought.

Was the other party worried that his daughter could not be married off?

Luoning's first instinct was the same, but thinking about it carefully, the possibility of such a situation occurring should not be high.

Moreover, Lulansi also said that marrying Princess Blanche was necessary for the Wushan Family and for Luoning himself.

Then the other party was preparing for the future, a future in which Lulansi would very likely no longer be around.

"Although nobles can change their heirs, modifying it once is fine, but a second time will absolutely be interfered with."

Lulansi said, "It is impossible for me to do the same thing within a few short years; that would only be rejected by His Majesty, and the successor would not obtain a legitimate status."

Luoning suddenly realized; Lulansi's words already indicated that in the future, after Weijinsi died, the person inheriting the position of Marquis might still be Buleidun.

"Aosen is a man with no small ambition, and his son's ambition is even greater."

Lulansi's eyes narrowed slightly, "I do not know if he will deal with you after I die. Therefore, having you marry Princess Blanche is also out of this intention."

Luoning understood; this was to pull the royal family in. As the son-in-law of His Majesty the King, Luoning's status would naturally rise somewhat. Even if someone with ulterior motives wanted to deal with him, they would have to find a reasonable excuse and also have to consider the royal family's face.

And for His Majesty Bruno, he could completely take advantage of this opportunity to increase his control over the Wushan Territory.

Otherwise, why would a princess marry a Baron who had lost his right of inheritance? Was Luoning so handsome that he could overturn all living beings?

I am afraid His Majesty King Bruno also has his own plans.

And for Luoning, if he cast aside personal feelings and started entirely from the perspective of interests, marrying Blanche indeed had no small benefits.

Moreover, if he wanted to conquer this continent in the future, he would also have an additional opportunity.

After all, the Auduin Kingdom and the Telixia Kingdom still both claim to this day to be descendants of the Orland Empire and possess the legitimate right of inheritance to the empire.

Then, would his descendants also have the legitimate right of inheritance to the Kingdom?

This marriage alliance looked beneficial to all three parties, and Luoning seemed to have no reason to refuse.

"Alright, I understand."

Although Luoning was still resistant in his heart, he had not found a reasonable excuse to refuse for the time being, so he could only take it one step at a time.

"Then will this matter be announced at the banquet the day after tomorrow?"

Lulansi breathed a sigh of relief; he had thought Luoning would act willfully and throw a tantrum like before. It seemed this child's personality had also undergone a huge change.

"That won't happen."

He said with a smile, "This time is just to let you two get to know each other; the formal announcement needs to be made by His Majesty the King."

Luoning also breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

(End of this chapter)