Zhaojun looked coldly and beautifully at everyone.
Then she tilted her head slightly and whispered into Liu Di's ear, "You still understand me best."
Liu Di froze, completely unable to understand what she meant.
Just as the entire hall fell silent.
Emperor Yuan of Han's voice suddenly rang out.
"Do not kneel."
"Then don't kneel."
"Zhaojun is no outsider."
The Emperor's facial muscles twitched as his mind raced. He asked again, "Commoner Zhaojun, do you have any other objections regarding your marriage to the Xiongnu?"
Zhaojun stood in the great hall. "I do."
Emperor Yuan of Han's eyes lit up. He was actually hoping the beauty would object.
Zhaojun looked at Chanyu Huhanye, who stood to one side, too frightened to speak and constantly swallowing.
She asked, "What status will I be given when I marry into the Xiongnu?"
Chanyu Huhanye stood there in a daze. Only after someone beside him translated Zhaojun's words did he repeatedly nod and solemnly say, "Ninghu Yanzhi!"
"Yanzhi" was the legitimate wife of a Xiongnu ruler and could also be translated as empress.
In other words, the Ninghu Empress!
Chanyu Huhanye was about to add something else.
But Zhaojun gave him no chance, merely saying one word: "Good."
Then she looked at Emperor Yuan of Han. "I will represent Western Han in this marriage alliance with the Chanyu. Can you, Emperor, guarantee that there will be no further warfare between our two sides and do your utmost to promote harmony between our peoples?"
Emperor Yuan of Han was somewhat stunned and answered instinctively, "Of course!"
Zhaojun nodded and continued, "Then would you be willing, at a critical moment, to send troops to assist Chanyu Huhanye in quelling the Xiongnu's internal rebellions, or even help him unify the Xiongnu?"
Everyone was stunned by her words.