When the ten-day deadline arrived, a group of handsome and youthful young men arrived at my mansion.

As expected, the emperor's foolish sons also came.

"General Song has organized a banquet exclusively for male guests. I doubt there will be another like it in the entire world," said Lu Ye, sitting in the main hall with a sarcastic tone.

"I am following the imperial decree. Didn't the emperor ask me to calm down and learn to be a good husband and father?" I approached, coldly staring at him. "This is not your seat. Move."

"I am the current crown prince and should rightfully be seated in the main seat," he stubbornly refused to budge.

The second prince, Lu Yuan, and the fifth prince, Lu Lan, who were chatting nearby, both looked at him.

"Crown Prince, there's no need to provoke trouble," Lu Yuan said with a cold and handsome face, fanning himself while glancing at Lu Ye.

Lu Lan kept his gaze fixed on me, smiling gently. "Yujie, I personally made two hairpins for you. Would you like to see them?"

I smiled and nodded, then turned my face coldly and grabbed Lu Ye's collar, pulling him up. "Are you itching for a fight by acting this way?"

"You..." Lu Ye's handsome face turned slightly red with anger.

"The men who came today are here to make me happy. If you want to be an exception, then leave immediately," I said.

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Lu Ye, pointing and discussing.

Unable to bear the loss of face, Lu Ye shook off my hand and turned to leave, his back displaying a stubborn and proud demeanor.

I laughed, pretending to be dignified.

I deliberately raised my voice in his direction, "After tonight's banquet, I will select one person to marry. Whoever becomes my husband will receive half of the tiger talisman from me."

The army under my command only recognizes me and the tiger talisman.

So as long as someone obtains half of the tiger talisman, even if they're a lowly commoner, they will have the power to command the three armies.

Upon hearing these words, everyone's eyes lit up.

Lu Ye immediately turned around and walked back, trying to appease me with a smiling face. "Since we're all here, I should toast General Song."

"Oh, Crown Prince, just now your attitude was quite different," I said with an unmistakable tone of sarcasm.

"If you ask me, you looked better when you had that high and mighty expression," he replied with a forced smile.

But judging by his temperament, his teeth were probably grinding.

I couldn't be bothered to look at his shameless appearance any longer, so I turned around and went to the inner courtyard to announce the start of the banquet.

During the banquet, the men from various families vied for attention.

No one paid attention to the food and drinks. They were all focused on composing poems, reciting essays, or showing off their swordplay, resembling colorful peacocks.

Moreover, in order to capture my attention, some even loosened their collars, allowing the wine to trickle down their chins and necks, revealing their well-defined chests.

I looked around with great interest.

It's often said that women are good at pleasing men in exchange for protection.

But from what I could see, men are equally skilled at fawning and seeking favor.

Even though the men present despised my arrogant and unruly behavior, in order to obtain the tiger talisman, a position as noble as a prince, they still had to swallow their pride and try to make me smile.

Thus, the power and influence one holds are truly desirable things.

"Ayue."

"General Song."

As the wine took effect, both Lu Yuan and Lu Ye raised their cups to me at the same time.

I glanced at the two of them, deliberately displaying a look of indecision about whom I should clink glasses with.

Seeing this, the sharpness in their eyes couldn't be concealed any longer.

Lu Yuan's face turned cold. "The Crown Prince has always been making things difficult for Ayue. And yet, now you eagerly offer a toast at the banquet. Are you afraid that others won't see through your sinister intentions?"

"If I have sinisterintentions, it would be towards you, not General Song," Lu Ye retorted, a sneer appearing on his face.

The tension between the two princes escalated, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall grew heavy.

Feeling a headache coming, I raised my hand to stop them. "Enough! This is supposed to be a joyful occasion. I won't tolerate any conflicts here."

The two princes reluctantly withdrew their hostility and sat back down, but their gazes remained locked on each other.

Amidst the chaos, Lu Lan approached me, holding a tray with two delicate hairpins. "Yujie, these are the hairpins I made for you. I hope you like them."

I took the hairpins and examined them closely. They were exquisitely crafted, with intricate designs and sparkling gemstones.

"Thank you, Lu Lan. They are beautiful," I said, genuinely appreciating his craftsmanship.

Lu Lan smiled warmly. "I'm glad you like them. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask."

His demeanor was courteous and attentive, and he seemed genuinely concerned about my well-being.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort in his presence.

The night went on, and the banquet continued with various performances and competitions.

As the host, I enjoyed the festivities and interacted with the guests, but a part of me couldn't help but wonder who among these men would be worthy of becoming my husband.

As the night drew to a close, I stood up and addressed the crowd. "Gentlemen, I want to express my gratitude for your presence tonight. It has been an eventful evening, filled with laughter, talent, and camaraderie."

The men applauded, their eyes filled with anticipation.

"Now, as promised, I will choose one person to marry and grant them half of the tiger talisman."

Everyone held their breath, waiting for my announcement.

After a moment of contemplation, I spoke with a resolute voice. "The person I have chosen is..."

At that moment, the doors to the banquet hall burst open, and a figure rushed in, panting heavily.

It was a messenger from the emperor, his face filled with urgency.

"General Song, I bring grave news. The capital is under attack! The enemy forces have breached the city walls!"

The room fell into stunned silence as the gravity of the situation sank in.

Without hesitation, I turned to face the crowd. "Gentlemen, our duty calls. The safety of the empire is at stake. I must lead the defense and protect our people."

Amidst the chaos and panic, the men quickly gathered their weapons and prepared to follow me.

As I rushed out of the banquet hall, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of disappointment and relief.

The search for a husband would have to be put on hold as the fate of the empire hung in the balance.

Little did I know that this pivotal moment would shape not only my destiny but also the future of the entire kingdom.