Three Cities as Dowry

As expected, it was the three people Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu and Edward Lawrence had predicted.

Of the Four Great Houses—Zhu, Shane, Yuan, and Sun—only the Zhu Family didn’t have anyone make it to the finals.

The Zhu Family members present were clearly embarrassed, each looking downcast and gloomy.

Next, the Empress Dowager of Blue Moon announced that the three would draw lots for the final round.

Grace was just about to stand up and shout, "Wait a minute!"

But someone beat her to it.

The speaker’s voice was clear and full of energy.

"Empress Dowager of Blue Moon, I want to join this competition too!"

Everyone turned to look. The speaker was Princess Lynne Ling of Windspire Kingdom.

This time, Windspire Kingdom had sent her as their envoy to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday.

The Empress Dowager of Blue Moon frowned and said, "Princess Lynne Ling, you may not know, but this competition is to choose a bride for General Evan Xiao—"

"That's wonderful!" Princess Lynne Ling interrupted, looking arrogant. "General Evan Xiao is handsome, and I like him! If I win, I'll make him my prince consort!"

A look of disgust flashed in the Empress Dowager of Blue Moon's eyes. "Princess Lynne Ling, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. The rules are already set—the competition is only open to eligible daughters of the Zhu, Shane, Yuan, and Sun families of Blue Moon Kingdom."

"Heh, are you afraid they'll lose to me?" Princess Lynne Ling laughed. "Honestly, your Blue Moon Kingdom girls are way too weak. So next time, don't keep saying Princess Cynthia was killed after marrying into Windspire Kingdom. She was just too weak, period!"

The Blue Moon Kingdom and Windspire Kingdom are both vassal states of the Vermilion Kingdom, and their territories are adjacent, so clashes are common.

When things got out of hand, the Vermilion Kingdom stepped in and arranged a political marriage between the two states.

So the Empress Dowager’s eldest daughter, Princess Cynthia, was married off to the King of Windspire Kingdom as his queen.

But less than three years later, she died under mysterious circumstances.

That was a thorn in the Empress Dowager’s heart.

The Empress Dowager’s face instantly darkened. She sneered, "Princess, do you really want to join the competition?"

"Of course!" Princess Lynne Ling lifted her chin. "If you’re really worried your girls will lose, then let all three of them come at me together! If I win, I’ll take your General Evan Xiao back to Windspire Kingdom as my prince consort. If I lose, I’ll kneel and apologize for my rudeness—how about that?"

But the Empress Dowager was no pushover. She smiled slightly and said, "Wonderful! Princess Lynne Ling, it’s an honor for Blue Moon Kingdom that you fancy our General Evan Xiao. I absolutely must fulfill your wish!"

"Thank you, Empress Dowager of Blue Moon!"

The Empress Dowager of Blue Moon added, "If you defeat all three of them, Evan Xiao is yours to take back to Windspire Kingdom as your prince consort. But if you lose... you won’t need to kneel and apologize. You can still marry Evan Xiao!"

"Oh? Empress Dowager of Blue Moon, you’re really generous."

"Well, guests should be treated with courtesy! Blue Moon Kingdom would never neglect hospitality." The Empress Dowager of Blue Moon’s smile deepened. "However, if you lose to all three, you’ll have to marry into Blue Moon Kingdom as a concubine! And you’ll have to bring your three cities as your dowry. Princess Lynne Ling, do you think that’s fair?"

Princess Lynne Ling was exceptionally gifted and favored by the King of Windspire Kingdom, receiving rewards far beyond those given to his sons.

So far, she already owned three cities in Windspire Kingdom.