That settled it. She was ruthless enough to put wolves to shame.
Chu Youning secretly gave Chu Zhaohua a thumbs-up.
"After that, we became strangers. Before long, war broke out among the kingdoms again. The Yu Kingdom's main forces were fighting Sheng and Jing, and Jialan seized the opportunity to ask for my hand, demanding three cities at Jia Pass as my dowry.
"And Jialan's betrothal gifts were... a kind of smoke that could instantly rob enemy troops of their ability to fight, along with the finest warhorses and a contingent of elite soldiers.
"I wanted to lead an army myself and wipe out that little kingdom of Jialan for looting a burning house. But... every civil and military official at court begged me to marry beneath my station. My imperial brother and sister-in-law looked at me with conflict in their eyes, but even more than that, with pleading.
"They... all chose to sacrifice me."
Chu Zhaohua gave another self-mocking laugh and drained the Cola in her hand:
"I grew up enjoying the imperial family's favor. Of course I knew I ought to give something back to the land. But for a powerful kingdom to need to sacrifice a woman to secure its peace and stability-wasn't that a joke? They were cowards. Not one of them supported me in leading an army to destroy Jialan myself!"
"Great kingdoms use marriage alliances to stabilize diplomatic relations. Though I thought little of it, I knew it was a practice handed down since ancient times. If they had asked me to marry into a great kingdom for an alliance, I would have agreed, however unwillingly.
"But... a paltry little kingdom no larger than the Capital-what right did they have to open their lion's maw and demand that I marry beneath my station?"
After