Chapter 548: Heavenly Match

"No, absolutely not!" Zu An was furious when he heard this. What kind of joke was it to send Manman to marry for peace?

Another courtier advised, "Everyone knows the deep affection between the prince and princess, but this time it's for the good of the entire nation. Please, Prince, do not act on impulse."

Zu An retorted directly, "If you want a peace marriage, go yourself, or send your daughter or sister."

Following this, numerous courtiers collectively criticized him, citing various righteous reasons and accusing him of disregarding the bigger picture. No matter how eloquent Zu An was, he couldn't out-argue so many old foxes seasoned in politics. He was not only steadily losing ground but also subjected to a moral condemnation from everyone.

Seeing Zu An in a difficult situation, a clear voice suddenly came from the entrance of the main hall: "Let me be the one to marry."

Everyone turned around and saw Second Princess Sancai, a strange determination on her face.

Zu An was startled. "Sancai, what are you doing? There's nothing for you here."

The other ministers also whispered among themselves, shaking their heads, saying it was inappropriate.

Sancai directly stated, "What's wrong with it? Am I not a princess?"

The court debated noisily for a while, and finally, King Wen Ding of Shang made the decision: "Then Sancai will go for the peace marriage." He then dispatched envoys to the west to discuss the matter with Zhou, settling the arrangement.

After the court session, Zu An and Pei Mianman anxiously asked Sancai, "Why did you volunteer for the marriage alliance? Don't you know that marrying far away carries unpredictable fortunes, and it could ruin your happiness for life?"

Sancai smiled faintly. "If I don't go, should Sister go instead?"

Zu An caught his breath, then said, "She can't go either. Even if it's a marriage alliance, couldn't we just find any noblewoman? Why would either of you need to go?"

Sancai shook her head. "It's different. Our nation faces an unprecedented crisis this time. Our Father King previously killed the lord of Western Zhou. How could an ordinary woman appease the anger of the Zhou people? Only a princess going can ease relations between us, allowing our Shang kingdom to focus on dealing with the Huaiyi, without being attacked from both sides."

"Among the royal princesses of marriageable age, there's only Sister and me. Since Sister is unwilling to go, it can only be me. As a princess, I've enjoyed years of luxury and comfort, so naturally, I should repay this country."

Zu An was somewhat surprised, never expecting such awareness from her at such a young age. Throughout history, countless children of nobles and royalty enjoyed the nation's wealth from childhood but were unwilling to fulfill their corresponding duties. In contrast, he and Pei Mianman seemed somewhat overshadowed. However, they were there for a trial, so it was natural for them not to have a deep sense of identity with this country.

Pei Mianman said in a low voice, "Why should my younger sister sacrifice herself? Of course, I, as the elder sister, should go."

Zu An grew anxious. "Manman!"

Pei Mianman gave him a reassuring look. With her experience and cultivation, she was confident she could maintain her integrity in Western Zhou for a short period. As for what happened afterward, they would deal with it later.

At this moment, Sancai laughed. "Sister, if you really marry over there, what will Brother do?"

Zu An and Pei Mianman both froze. "Sancai, what are you talking about?"

Sancai sighed softly. "From childhood until now, you two always sent me to sleep, and then you'd hug and 'nibble' each other nearby. Did you really think I, as a child, knew nothing?"

Zu An: "..."Pei Mianman: "..."

She glared at Zu An, blushing, blaming him for it.

Sancai continued, "You two are in love. Others might not know, but how could I, your younger sister, not know? While I don't know how things will end for you, how can I stand by and watch you two be separated now?"

They hadn't expected her to do it for their sake. Zu An and Pei Mianman's eyes immediately reddened, and they became even more unwilling for her to make such a sacrifice.

Hearing their persuasion, Sancai also put away her smile. "Big Brother, Sister, please don't think I'm doing this solely for you. From childhood, much of what you two talked about went over my head, but I did understand that in your hearts, the Zhou people in the west are absolutely a major threat to our Shang kingdom and could very likely destroy us in the future."

"As a princess of Shang, I naturally cannot stand idly by. Unfortunately, I haven't been good at anything since I was young; I can't compare to you two in any aspect. If Sister, with her military strategies, were to marry into Western Zhou, that would be a tremendous loss for our Shang kingdom. It's more beneficial for her to stay here and help Great Shang, while I go there to be an insider. This way, the three of us can work together to protect Great Shang's centuries-old foundation."

Hearing her speak with such solemnity, Zu An and Pei Mianman finally understood that her decision was not an impulsive one but the result of careful consideration.

"But this is too unfair to you; it sacrifices your lifelong happiness." Zu An and Pei Mianman urged her together. The three had grown up together, and their affection was naturally extremely deep; they truly regarded her as their own sister and were unwilling to see her suffer any grievance.

Sancai giggled. "It might not be unhappy at all. At least this time, I'm marrying the leader of the Zhou people. In terms of status, I'd be the mother of a nation. Besides, I heard Ji Chang is a good person and handsome. Perhaps if we truly fall in love, I can even get him to completely submit to us."

"Ji Chang!" Zu An's heart sank. Historically, although Shang was overthrown by King Wu Ji Fa, most of the foundation was laid by King Wen Ji Chang. Ji Fa merely finished the job. How could such a person be swayed by a woman?

Hearing his concerns, Sancai shook her head. "Even if I can't win him over, at worst, I'll have ten or eight children for him. Humph, with my status, he certainly can't make me a concubine. This way, my children will be the heirs of Zhou, and then the leader of the Zhou people will be the Shang king's own nephew, and relations between the two sides will be completely eased."

"This..." Zu An and Pei Mianman exchanged glances. Come to think of it, this plan seemed feasible. Setting aside the blood ties, if Sancai's children were raised by her, they would undoubtedly be pro-Shang at heart. After a few generations, the Zhou people might genuinely submit to the Shang dynasty. History contained many such successful cases.

This trial wasn't actual history, so perhaps this strategy could truly undermine the opposition and allow them to pass the trial.

Sancai said cheerfully, "Alright, alright, I'm done talking to you. I have a ton of things to do!" With that, she skipped away.

Watching her retreating figure, Pei Mianman sighed softly. "It's all because we didn't deliberately avoid her when she was young, which led her to hear too much of our conversations. Subconsciously, she came to see Zhou as Shang's great enemy, which is why she volunteered for this marriage alliance."

"I hope everything goes well." Zu An ultimately didn't stop her. In his view, even if this trial failed and he and Pei Mianman died, it wouldn't prevent Sancai from becoming the founding mother of the Zhou dynasty. For her, it might not be a bad thing at all.

Not long after, an envoy returned to report that the Zhou people had agreed to the marriage alliance, and the newly appointed Marquis of Xibo, Ji Chang, would welcome the bride at the Wei River. The Shang side did not refuse either. After all, they had just lured the previous Marquis of Xibo to Yin Capital and killed him. If they insisted on Ji Chang coming to Yin Capital again, who would dare to come?

So, they dispatched escorts to accompany Princess Sancai to the Wei River. Zu An volunteered to be part of the escort, and Pei Mianman also disguised herself and hid among the retainers.

Upon reaching the Wei River, Zu An noted that there were certainly no bridges over the Wei River in that era, but Ji Chang had already prepared for it. Zu An saw boats connected to form a bridge over the Wei River, and his heart swelled with emotion. This was probably the first pontoon bridge in history.

When he met Ji Chang, he found him refined and graceful, a truly handsome man. His conversation exuded an extraordinary air.

Zu An even had an impulse: if he were to directly kill this "gravedigger" of the Shang dynasty at this moment, would it change history? However, he ultimately dismissed the idea. Not to mention whether he could even kill him with the layers of Zhou guards, even if he did, it would lead to endless war with Zhou. With the Huaiyi invading en masse from the east, if the Zhou people in the west also came for vengeful retribution, the Shang dynasty would likely fall even faster than it did historically.

Some unpleasant incidents also occurred during the welcoming ceremony. Clearly, many Zhou people were displeased with this marriage alliance. Some who were sent to gather fruit returned with empty baskets, then spoke sarcastically, implying that the Shang princess was destined to be barren. Furthermore, the Zhou people preparing the food deliberately failed to drain the blood when slaughtering sheep, making the mutton exceedingly gamey and difficult to swallow.

Zu An was enraged, but Ji Chang quickly came forward to apologize. He even had a song composed to apologize to Sancai: "Guan guan ju jiu, on the river's isle. The graceful and fair maiden, a worthy match for the gentleman..." He then named this marriage "A Match Made in Heaven."

Sancai's face lit up with smiles upon hearing it, and her gaze towards him softened. Even the other people from Shang turned their anger into joy.

Zu An's expression was odd. He hadn't expected the most famous lines from the Classic of Poetry to be composed for his younger sister. He had to admit that Ji Chang was handsome, and using poetry to charm women like this, he was indeed a seasoned charmer. He certainly wouldn't be fooled by the other party's poem, but he knew that if he were to challenge Ji Chang now in a fit of pique, Sancai would suffer in the future. So, he suppressed his anger and decided to turn conflict into peace with him.

During a break in the feast, Sancai quietly approached Zu An and said with a smile, "My dear brother, are you still sulking?"

Zu An sighed softly. "I just feel like a fresh, vibrant cabbage I watched grow up is about to be 'rooted' by another man. How can I be happy?"

Sancai snorted. "You're describing your situation with Sister. If Father King knew, he'd probably feel the same way."

Zu An: "..."Pei Mianman: "..."

"Alright, I'm leaving," Sancai said cheerfully. "Brother, do you have any instructions for me?"

Zu An said gravely, "Sancai, after interacting with him just now, objectively speaking, setting aside our opposing positions, Ji Chang is indeed a remarkable figure of his generation. You don't have to keep thinking about helping Shang. Live your life peacefully with him and don't let our affairs here affect your happiness."

Sancai pouted slightly. "Is that all you have to say to me?" She then turned and walked away, clearly a little displeased.

However, she eventually turned back and whispered, "I didn't actually fall for that Ji Chang just now; I was just putting on a show for him. Don't worry, I will always be the princess of Great Shang, and I know my mission." After saying this, she quickly ran off.

Zu An and Pei Mianman sighed inwardly. The little sister they used to play in the mud with had truly grown up, but her maturity was heartbreaking.

The next day, the wedding procession carried Sancai away. No matter how reluctant they were, Zu An and Pei Mianman could only return to Yin Capital. Next, they still had to help "Father King" fight against the invading Huaiyi from the east.

Having experienced various wars and state affairs in their previous lives, Zu An and Pei Mianman found these tasks familiar and easy. However, they soon realized that the Shang dynasty indeed had many existing problems. Its national strength was far from what it used to be, and the bureaucratic system was rife with corruption, leading to various obstacles for Zu An in logistics. Pei Mianman also noticed that the army's combat effectiveness was far, far inferior to the invincible army of the Wu Ding era. They could only do their best, feeling like mere patch-up artists, striving to maintain a nation on the brink.

During this period, Sancai corresponded with them from time to time, chatting about everyday life, her married life, the customs and local conditions of Western Zhou, and her longing for home. She also mentioned that Ji Chang treated her very well, which brought them some peace of mind. Later, the frequency of letters they received became fewer and fewer. Although they found it strange, they didn't think much of it, as they were constantly busy with the war against the Huaiyi and had little energy to concern themselves with the west.

Over several years of war, Zu An gradually distinguished himself, becoming the undisputed heir to the Shang King. After Wen Ding's death, Zu An ascended the throne as the new Shang King, and together with Pei Mianman, finally pacified the Huaiyi. But at this time, news arrived from Western Zhou: Sancai had died in childbirth.

Upon hearing this news, both of them felt as if struck by lightning, unable to believe it was true. It was known that in the previous trial, Pei Mianman had died due to difficult childbirth. Zu An, fearing a repeat, had extensively researched knowledge about childbirth and also taught it to Sancai. How could she possibly die from it?

They immediately dispatched scouts to investigate, and news quickly returned. Ji Chang had taken another wife, Tai Si, the daughter of a noble from the local You Shen state in Shaanxi, and made her his principal wife. New songs were even circulating throughout the Zhou territory, praising this marriage, and the lyrics "A Match Made in Heaven" appeared. To think that his sister was originally the protagonist of this story, only to be replaced by someone else through a cunning deception. Centuries later, who would remember Sancai? Everyone would only believe that Tai Si was the heroine of "A Match Made in Heaven."

Zu An was immediately enraged. Disregarding the opposition of his ministers, he decided to raise an army to subjugate Western Zhou, first, to thoroughly resolve this unending trial, and second, to avenge his dear sister. Pei Mianman did not stop him; she was equally filled with anger, given their sisterly bond from childhood.

Just as the two were preparing to personally lead the expedition, the space suddenly twisted the next second. When they regained consciousness, they found themselves not in the familiar royal palace, but in an unfamiliar place. This was clearly also a palace, but its splendor far surpassed that of the Yin Capital's royal palace.

Pei Mianman was currently nestled in his arms. They sat on a grand, elevated throne, watching a group of scantily clad palace maids dancing below. Even for Zu An, a seasoned individual who had seen countless beauties, he blushed slightly at that moment. The palace maids' attire was truly too revealing, and their dancing was exceptionally alluring, almost like a chaotic dance of celestial demons. Such decadent music!

Zu An quickly composed himself and exchanged a glance with Pei Mianman. Having experienced this once before, they were much calmer. They dismissed the dancing palace maids, then found a nearby handmaiden and began to inquire. Compared to their straightforwardness during the Wu Ding era, they were now much more skillful in their questions, at least not giving anyone reason to suspect memory loss or anything of the sort. Soon, they finally understood the situation and their respective identities.

Zu An's expression was quite peculiar as he stared blankly at Pei Mianman. After years of development, the world's textile industry had clearly made significant progress. She was now wearing a magnificent gown that also served the convenience of a home robe. It was unknown who designed the garment, but it perfectly blended two completely different sensations. She lay casually on the throne, her slender, elegant figure perfectly outlined by the thin dress. Her languid, "peach blossom" eyes seemed to have changed, becoming narrower, like phoenix eyes, with a particular allure. Coupled with her luscious red lips, her entire being exuded a captivating, almost foxy charm, making anyone who saw her feel an irresistible urge to pull her close and dally with her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Pei Mianman blushed. Although they had been together for so long, she still seemed to retain the mindset of her youthful self.

Zu An sighed. "I can't believe we've turned out to be those two people. This must be the final stage of this trial; whether we pass or not depends on this."

"Why are you so sure it's the last stage?" Pei Mianman was surprised. "Is there something wrong with these two people's identities?"

"There's a big problem," Zu An sighed. "Because in the world of my dreams, they are the two most famous people from the Shang dynasty, practically household names."

"That powerful?" Hearing they were still in the Shang dynasty, Pei Mianman actually felt relieved. Having been Shang King and Queen for so long, they were well-versed in the nation's military and political systems, which gave them more confidence no matter what they encountered.

"Of course they're powerful, because you are Daji, and I am King Zhou!" Zu An's heart was filled with mixed emotions, unable to believe they had become those two in this world. Had all his previous efforts been in vain? Could he still not change the wheel of history and escape the fate of the nation's downfall? It seemed this trial was destined to fail. For a moment, he didn't even have time to complain about having transmigrated into his own son. King Zhou's father was Xian, who was Zu An in his previous life.

"What exactly is going on?" Pei Mianman quickly asked.

Zu An sighed and told her the story of King Zhou and Daji. After listening, Pei Mianman also had a strange expression, surprised by this new identity.

However, she immediately sensed Zu An's low spirits and quickly said, "A'Zu, although I don't know if the world in your dream is real or not, we've been through so much; we can't just resign ourselves to fate. As the saying goes, 'The Great Dao has fifty, Heaven's law forty-nine, and man escapes one.' Even if the ending you spoke of is true, we still have a glimmer of hope. It just depends on whether we can find that glimmer of hope."

Zu An's whole body shook. "You're right. We must not give up until the very last moment!"

With his fighting spirit reignited, he felt revitalized, and his mindset became much lighter. Looking at the bewitching beauty in his arms, Zu An couldn't help but chuckle, "You vixen."

"You lecherous, dissolute monarch," Pei Mianman spat. Having heard the story he just told, she, of course, knew that Daji was historically the most famous vixen, and King Zhou was synonymous with depravity.

"Me, lecherous? Then I'll show you how lecherous I can be." Thinking of her current identity as Daji, Zu An felt both apprehension and excitement. He immediately rolled over and pressed down on her.

Pei Mianman's seductive eyes narrowed, and her jade-like arms gently embraced the man above her. "You truly are a dissolute monarch. In our previous life, you started when I was just a child..."

They had been trapped in this strange trial for far too long, and various negative emotions had accumulated in their hearts. If they didn't release them occasionally, they would have gone mad long ago.

After the "clouds had cleared and rain had stopped," the two began to seriously consider what to do next. Just then, a palace maid came to announce, "Ji Boyi Kao, the eldest son of the Marquis of Xibo, requests an audience with Your Majesty!"