Chapter 61

"Marriage to Hailanzhu?"

Even though Yueyang's mental fortitude had improved significantly since he arrived in this time and space, he was still startled by this sudden statement.

"What's going on? Chief Zaisang, this old man, is actually going to give his precious daughter to me? This is Hailanzhu, the future chief concubine of Huang Taiji, the most favored among his four concubines. Why are you giving her to me, Chief Zaisang?"

Thinking about this, Yueyang couldn't help but turn to look at Hailanzhu. Although Hailanzhu's personality was a mix of heroism and boldness, hearing her father suddenly say he was going to marry her off to someone else made her already rosy face turn even redder, and she shyly lowered her head. At that moment, she looked so beautiful and adorable that Yueyang was momentarily entranced.

Seeing this, Yueyang blurted out, "Chief Zaisang, if you give Miss Hailanzhu to me, what about Huang Taiji?"

"Hmm... Huang Taiji?" Hearing this name, a look of confusion appeared in Zaisang's eyes, and he then asked warily, "How do you know about Huang Taiji?"

Hailanzhu also looked up at Yueyang in surprise. After all, Daishan had just arrived yesterday, and the news of Huang Taiji's intention to marry into the科尔沁部落 (Khorchin tribe) had not yet spread. How did Yueyang know about this?

"I... I..." Yueyang was taken aback. As a person from the future, he naturally knew that Huang Taiji was going to marry Hailanzhu, and it would happen in just two years. But this was supposed to be a secret, and he, a mere merchant, shouldn't have known about it.

After some thought, Yueyang tried to explain, "Well... I... actually, I have a few good friends in Shengjing, and I naturally need to know about such a big event as Huang Taiji wanting to pick the most beautiful flower on the Khorchin grassland."

"Is that so!" Zaisang didn't doubt him. At this time, the relationship between the Ming and the Later Jin was already like water and fire, and it was very common for both sides to plant spies.

His feelings towards this man, whom he didn't know whether to call a brother-in-law or a son-in-law, were very complex. On one hand, the alliance with the Later Jin had greatly improved the safety of the Khorchin tribe. On the other hand, Huang Taiji's endless demands had made Zaisang very resentful. In short, it was a very complex feeling, a mix of love and hate.

The more Zaisang thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. He waved his hand impatiently and said, "You don't need to worry about that. I just want to know if you are willing to marry my daughter."

"Of course, Hailanzhu, the chief concubine of Huang Taiji, the most favored among his four concubines. Only a fool wouldn't want to marry her!"

Yueyang felt a surge of blood to his chest, but he managed to keep his cool and asked, "Chief Zaisang, from your tone, it doesn't seem that simple to marry your daughter, does it?"

Hearing Yueyang say this, Zaisang felt much more at ease. He understood that if Yueyang said this, it meant he wasn't opposed to marrying a Mongolian girl. After all, some Han people from inside the pass were very arrogant and looked down on those outside the pass, let alone marrying a Mongolian girl as a wife.

"Of course not. My precious daughter is the most beautiful nightingale on the Khorchin grassland. It's not that simple to marry her!" Zaisang, feeling more confident, stroked his short beard and said slowly, "Tomorrow is the traditional sheep-snatching festival of our Khorchin tribe. You have to ride a horse and fight with our Mongolian tribe's thousands of young men to snatch the lamb. After snatching the lamb, you must publicly propose to my daughter and present a heavy gift. Only then will I consider whether to marry my daughter to you. Do you understand?"

Listening to Zaisang, even Hailanzhu, with her bold nature, was too embarrassed to lift her head. But since it was a matter of her life, she couldn't leave, so she had to bury her face in the table.

Yueyang's reaction was very unexpected. He suddenly stood up and was about to leave without a word, which made Zaisang stare in surprise and quickly call him back.

"Mr. Yue, what are you doing? Where are you going?"

Yueyang turned around, his face grim, and said through gritted teeth, "Chief Zaisang, are you playing with me? Look at me. Do I look like someone who can ride a horse and fight, and defeat thousands of strong young men? Or are you trying to harm me during the competition?"

At this moment, Yueyang almost wanted to strangle the old man. He was very self-aware. To snatch the lamb from thousands of Mongolian young men who had grown up on horseback, he would need to be possessed by Guan Yu or the rebirth of Xiang Yu. Otherwise, it was an impossible task. If Yueyang really participated, he would probably be trampled to death by the hooves of the horses.

"Of course not! How could I do that!" Zaisang was drenched in sweat and quickly explained, "Mr. Yue, you are overthinking it. I wouldn't do that. Don't worry, I will arrange it! Your participation in the competition is just a formality to silence some people. I guarantee that as long as you participate, you will be the champion!"

Yueyang turned and looked at Zaisang suspiciously, "Really? You're not planning to knock me off the horse and have a thousand horses trample me, are you?"

Zaisang thumped his chest, "Absolutely not! I have already arranged it. There will be hundreds of young men helping you snatch the lamb. You just need to ride the horse, and the lamb will naturally fall into your arms!"

"Is that possible?" Yueyang's face was full of shock. With hundreds of skilled young men helping him, as long as he wasn't an idiot, he would definitely be the champion.

"Is this how corruption is formed?"

Yueyang muttered to himself and then walked back to his seat, looking at Zaisang and asking directly, "Chief Zaisang, tell me, what do you want from me in return for marrying Hailanzhu to me?"

"That depends on how much dowry you can afford." Zaisang smiled cunningly, acting like a shrewd merchant.

"Chief Zaisang, are you marrying your daughter or selling her? How can you be so mercenary!" Yueyang couldn't help but roll his eyes. This guy was being too blatant.

At this moment, Hailanzhu raised her head and called out in anger, "What are you doing? Did you ask me? I haven't agreed to marry him yet!"

Zaisang chuckled, "My dear daughter, if you don't want to marry Mr. Yue, that's fine. Daishan, the Great Prince, is still in our tribe. I will go to him tomorrow and send you to Shengjing to marry Huang Taiji!"

Hailanzhu's face turned up in displeasure, "I won't marry him. He's almost forty years old. Why should he marry me after marrying my aunt and Bumbutai? Does he really think that the women of the Borjigit family can't marry anyone else but him?"

"Isn't that settled then?" Zaisang smiled like a fox, "Hailanzhu, you are my most precious daughter. I have always been reluctant to marry you off because I didn't think any young man on the grassland was worthy of you, and I was afraid you would be unhappy. Now Mr. Yue has come to our tribe. He is talented and handsome, and most importantly, he hasn't married yet. You will be happy with him, won't you?"

"I..." Hailanzhu fell silent. Although she was usually proud, she knew that in this era, women had no say in their marriages, especially those of high status. She had enjoyed a carefree life, but she also had to bear the same responsibility. Marrying this young man in front of her was at least better than marrying the old man Huang Taiji. At least this young man from the Ming didn't seem to disgust her.

After a moment's hesitation, Hailanzhu said softly, "Then... how do we refuse Daishan?"

"Ha ha ha..." Zaisang laughed loudly, knowing that his precious daughter was tacitly accepting the marriage.

"Don't worry, my dear daughter." Zaisang said proudly, "I will tell him tomorrow that he can marry my daughter if he wins the sheep-snatching competition. I don't believe that even if he sends people to participate, hundreds of Mongolian young men will surround them. I don't believe he can snatch the lamb from so many men on the grassland!"

"That's possible!" Yueyang and Hailanzhu exclaimed in unison.

"Chief Zaisang, you're really favoring one side too much!" Yueyang couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. This wasn't a one-to-ten fight, but a one-to-hundred or even a one-to-thousand fight...

PS: Brothers, remember to vote after reading!

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