40: Chapter 40 The First Appearance of the Princess of the Second German Empire

A Letter from Berlin

Just as Li Ling was busy preparing for the final battle against Japan, a letter from Berlin arrived on his desk.

The envelope was light blue, with the recipient's address written in gold-stamped letters and the seal of the German Empire's royal family stamped on the flap.

Li Ling opened the envelope to find a piece of exquisite stationery filled with fluent English.

"Dear Mr. Li Ling: Please forgive my presumption. I have heard of your heroic deeds and exceptional talent from General Stresemann. You have changed the landscape of East Asia single-handedly, causing the entire world to look at you with new eyes."

"I have always longed for Eastern culture since I was a child, and you have shown me a new hope for the East. I am writing this letter presumptuously, hoping to become friends with you and learn more stories about you and the Qingxia Kingdom."

"Looking forward to your reply. Yours sincerely, Princess Victoria Louise."

Li Ling read the letter, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"The German Princess is quite polite."

Empress Su Wanqing leaned over to take a look, a flash of complex emotion in her eyes: "Brother Ling, this princess is interested in you."

"Don't talk nonsense, she's just making friends normally."

"Would someone just making friends use such nice stationery? Would she use the royal seal?" Empress Su Wanqing rolled her eyes at him. "Brother Ling, I'm not stupid."

Li Ling coughed awkwardly: "Wanqing, don't overthink it, I haven't even met her yet."

"You will once you meet." Empress Su Wanqing sighed, "But Brother Ling, I've said it before, I don't mind. As long as you are well, I am well."

Li Ling held her hand moved: "Wanqing, you are truly kind."

"Stop being sappy, hurry up and write back, don't keep the princess waiting." Empress Su Wanqing pushed him away with a smile.

Humorous Reply

Li Ling sat at his desk, picked up a fountain pen, and began to draft his reply.

The system offered ideas in his mind: [Write something sappier, wrap the princess around your finger.]

"What do you know? A political marriage cannot be too sappy; it needs to be just right."

[Then how do you plan to write it?]

Li Ling thought for a moment and began to write:

"Dear Princess Victoria Louise: Thank you very much for your letter. This is the most beautiful letter I have received—I mean the envelope."

"Your description of my deeds makes me feel ashamed; in fact, I am just a young man with better luck, who happened to be born in an unstable era and happened to have a little bit of ability."

"You said you long for Eastern culture, so I must remind you that Eastern food is very spicy, Eastern summers are very hot, and Eastern insects are very poisonous. If you really want to come, please prepare yourself mentally."

"However, if you just want to be friends with me, then you are warmly welcomed. I have no other merits, but I am particularly good at chatting (System: You are bragging), and I guarantee to make you happy every day."

"Looking forward to your next letter. Yours sincerely, Li Ling."

[Hahaha, is this reply too casual?] The system laughed out loud.

"This is called humor, do you understand humor?" Li Ling said proudly, "The princess is flattered by people every day, and suddenly meeting someone who doesn't flatter her will make her feel refreshed."

[Fine, you're good. But aren't you afraid of offending her?]

"Offend?" Li Ling shook his head, "If she doesn't even have this bit of humor, then she isn't worth my effort."

The Princess's Reaction

Less than half a month after the letter was sent, the second letter from the German Princess arrived.

This time, the letter was significantly longer, and the tone was more intimate.

"Dear Mr. Li (please allow me to address you this way): Your reply made me laugh until I doubled over; my mother even asked if I was sick. I told her that I just met an interesting person."

"You said that Eastern food is very spicy, but I am not afraid of spice; you said that Eastern summers are very hot, but I am not afraid of heat; you said that Eastern insects are very poisonous, but I can bring a mosquito net. So, your 'warning' is ineffective."

"I am very curious, is it true that you are 'particularly good at chatting'? If it is true, then I would like to chat with you a lot. If it is not true, that doesn't matter, because I would rather hear you tell stories."

"You said you are not a hero, but I think that someone who can make people laugh is rarer than a hero."

"Looking forward to your next letter. Yours sincerely, Victoria Louise."

Empress Su Wanqing finished the letter and looked at Li Ling with a half-smile: "Brother Ling, this princess is becoming more and more attentive to you."

"Normal, who told me to be so charming." Li Ling said shamelessly.

[Your skin is thicker than the city wall.]

Shut up.

Emily also leaned over to read the letter, and after reading it, she pursed her lips: "It's not written very well, I write better than her."

Li Ling felt a headache, and quickly changed the subject: "Alright, alright, stop arguing, both of you write well. Let's eat, let's eat!"

Considerations of Political Marriage

In the evening, Li Ling sat alone in his study, seriously thinking about the pros and cons of marrying the German Princess.

The benefits are obvious: with the support of the German Empire's royal family, his international status will be greatly improved, his arms business can grow larger, and he can use the power of the German Empire to contain other powers.

The disadvantages are also obvious: once married, he will be completely tied to the war chariot of the German Empire. If the German Empire goes to war with Britain and France in the future, he will also be involved.

[Host, how will you choose?]

"No rush." Li Ling shook his head, "Communication has just begun, and marriage is still a long way off. I will build up the navy first, and when I have enough strength, it will not be too late to talk about marriage."

[Do you want to drag it out?]

"It's not dragging it out, it's waiting and seeing." A sharp light flashed in Li Ling's eyes, "The world situation changes rapidly, maybe in two years the German Empire itself will have problems. I have to act according to circumstances."

[You, you are really calculating.]

"Can I not calculate?" Li Ling smiled bitterly, "How many people's lives am I carrying on my shoulders? One wrong step means eternal damnation."

[...You are right.]

"So, marriage is possible, but it must be carried out on my terms." Li Ling clenched his fists, "I am Li Ling, not anyone's pawn."

The System's Teasing

The system suddenly asked: [Host, you are flirting with Empress Su Wanqing, Emily, and the German Princess at the same time, and there will be royal princesses and daughters of large southern financial groups in the future. Can you handle it?]

Li Ling was stunned: "What handle it?"

[Five women, aren't you afraid that the harem will catch fire?]

"If it catches fire, let it catch fire. I have a fire extinguisher."

[What fire extinguisher?]

"My charm." Li Ling said solemnly.

[...Get lost!]

"Hahaha..." Li Ling laughed, "System, don't worry, I will handle matters of the heart well. Although there are five women, as long as they are sincere to me, I will be sincere to them."

[Are you sure?]

"Sure." Li Ling said seriously, "I am a person who doesn't easily get emotional, but once I do, it's for a lifetime. If they are good to me, I will be better to them."

[Fine, I've remembered these words.]

"Remember it then, I don't plan to go back on it anyway."

It was late at night, and Li Ling lay on the bed, looking at the moonlight outside the window.

The German Princess's letter was still on the bedside table, and a faint perfume scent lingered in the air.

"Victoria Louise..." he muttered to himself, "I hope that between us, it is not just a political marriage."

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, and the sea breeze blew gently.

A new chapter is about to begin.