Chapter 368 Please grant us a marriage! Luo'er shall surely become the Princess Consort of Prince Su!

"Xiao Wu, what do you mean by this?"

Upon seeing the contents of the brocade box, Duan Rongyin's expression changed drastically, and he looked at his fifth brother with bated breath.

He was always dignified and refined, with a humble and easygoing smile always on his lips.

But at this moment, his eyes were as cold as an eagle eyeing its prey.

It is said that when Consort Yue gave birth to the fifth prince, Emperor Yan, who loved her to the point of madness, immediately bestowed upon her a blank imperial edict.

Emperor Yan personally drafted the heading and affixed the imperial seal.

This is a promise from an emperor.

Whatever Consort Yue and her son want in the future, Emperor Yan is willing to give them to them.

Although this imperial edict was blank, its weight was comparable to that of mountains and rivers.

Bearing the emperor's most ardent love for his beloved, it granted a concubine the power of life and death.

Such a thunderous thing, such a promise—the meaning behind it all is self-evident.

However, when all the concubines in the harem heard about this, they regarded Consort Yue and her son as thorns in their flesh and eyes.

However, the emperor's favor was as intense as the blazing sun, and he bestowed almost all the glory and privileges upon Consort Yue back then.

It is no exaggeration to say that among countless beauties, she alone enjoyed the emperor's favor.

Even the Empress Dowager had to show deference to Consort Yue back then.

But Consort Yue never brought out that imperial edict.

This incident caused the Empress Dowager to suffer from sleepless nights for several years.

Later, Consort Yue died suddenly.

After the entire Guifu Palace was massacred, it was completely destroyed in a fire.

Although Emperor Yan later rebuilt Guifu Palace to mourn his beloved, Prince Su never set foot in Guifu Palace even once.

However, I heard that the blank imperial edict was destroyed along with Consort Yue in the fire long ago.

However, the Empress and the Crown Prince have been troubled by the blank imperial edict from back then for many years, and have never been able to shake off their doubts. So, in recent years, they have secretly and frantically tested the Prince Su's residence countless times.

But they never found that imperial edict.

In the imperial court, he would seize any opportunity to suppress Prince Su.

Despite the insane behavior of the mother and son, and even when the crown prince was deposed, Duan Rongshi never took the opportunity to produce the imperial edict.

Finally, the Empress and the Crown Prince gradually lowered their guard and suspicion.

Today, however, he took it out so easily!

How could the Empress and the Crown Prince not panic?

Faced with this sudden turn of events, the two of them looked at Duan Rongshi with such hatred that they wished they could devour him on the spot!

Emperor Yan was also shocked when he saw what he took out.

"Get down!"

He mustered his strength and gave the order.

The Crown Prince suppressed his anger, maintaining his refined and scholarly demeanor: "Fifth Prince, did you hear me? Your father wants you to leave."

"You are so disappointing."

"Over the years you have been in the Dali Temple, even though you have acted wildly and violently and committed many cruel acts, the Emperor has indulged and doted on you excessively. I never expected that you would take out this thing when the Emperor was ill."

"what you up to?"

"Disregarding Father's health, they still insist on forcing Father's will; what exactly do they want to achieve..."

Emperor Yan: "Crown Prince, I mean for you to leave!"

"And the Empress, you all get out!"

Emperor Yan was furious and grabbed the tent flap, tearing it down forcefully.

The curtains collapsed instantly under the force, falling towards the Empress's head.

If it weren't for the palace maid rushing forward to shield the Empress, she would have been in a much worse state than she is now.

The curtain hung over her face, messing up her makeup and the hairpins in her hair.

Where was her usual dignified and noble demeanor in an instant?

Empress Gao and the Crown Prince both looked extremely embarrassed, and they reluctantly withdrew together.

As soon as they stepped out of the palace, the Empress quickly gave Wang He a meaningful look.

Wang He lowered his eyelids and stared at the little eunuch beside him.

However, Emperor Yan summoned the Imperial Guards.

They were ordered to guard the Zichen Palace tightly, both inside and out, so that no one could hear anything coming from inside.

Emperor Yan stared intently at his son, who was kneeling on the ground in his imperial robes.

His eyes were as cold as knives.

The blow landed mercilessly on Duan Rongshi. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Bring it to me."

Duan Rongshi respectfully took out the imperial edict and handed it to Emperor Yan.

Emperor Yan's hands trembled as he tried to unfold the document, but he seemed to lack the courage.

Finally, he slammed the rolled-up imperial edict onto the bed.

Twenty-two years...

This imperial edict is now twenty-two years old.

He really hid Qingyue very well.

He thought that the imperial edict and the promise had long since gone with her.

Unexpectedly, she actually left a way out for her son.

A hint of murderous intent flickered in Emperor Yan's eyes.

He clutched the imperial edict tightly in his hand, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts hundreds of times.

Kill him!

The country will then be stable.

But his Qingyue...

How could he betray his Qingyue again?

If we don't kill him, what does he want?

This son is now nothing more than a knife in his hand.

How could a knife covet the throne?

He should just be a tool to ensure his lifelong power, wealth, and comfort.

He had already made arrangements for his escape route.

What is he still fantasizing about?

What...do you want?

"Why don't you let me hear it first?"

Duan Rongshi lowered his eyes: "Father, what do you think your son wants?"

After he finished speaking, he slowly raised his head to look at Emperor Yan.

Emperor Yan's eyes trembled violently.

He rarely summoned his son.

Because he looks so much like his Qingyue.

Even the red mole between their eyebrows is exactly the same.

Whenever he saw Duan Rong, he would think of his Qingyue.

Emperor Yan would be heartbroken and unable to sleep all night...

His mother died at his age, right?

Duan Rongshi: "Father, there is no need to worry. Your son only wants to use this promise to exchange for an imperial decree from Father to grant us marriage."

Emperor Yan thought he had misheard.

"What did you say?"

Duan Rongshi: "Your son wishes to marry Li Qingluo, the eldest granddaughter of General Xiuli's family. I hope Your Majesty will grant my request."

Emperor Yan was stunned for a long time.

It took him so long that he secretly pinched himself to come to his senses.

he?

Holding the king's promise, all he wanted was a marriage decree?

Does he know what he's saying?

Does he realize what kind of opportunity he's wasting?

Is he an idiot?

Emperor Yan almost cursed him as an idiot.

Although, if he were to actually ask for something even more inappropriate, I would never give it to him.

They might even secretly execute him to ensure the stability of the court.

But surely it can't just be an arranged marriage?

Emperor Yan was so angry that his head ached, and he rubbed the swollen part of his nose.

"Fifth Prince, I'm giving you a chance. Speak properly..."

"She's just a concubine; I'll bestow her upon you as I see fit."

"The eldest granddaughter of General Xiuli, even though Li Chaojing has committed a capital crime, I have heard that she and her grandmother have long since left the clan. I can grant you this favor regardless of your family background, but don't be too reckless!"

"The promise I made to Qingyue back then wasn't just a marriage decree—"

Duan Rongshi gazed quietly at his father, the Emperor.

"Then what can Father Emperor give me?"

Emperor Yan paused.

He... he can give him a high-ranking official position.

Give him more land.

Give him gold and silver... and even countless women.

And not just a woman.

Duan Rongshi: "Your subject is foolish and knows that he does not please the Emperor, so he has never asked the Emperor for anything over the years."

"Just like your mother, I only want a pure and unwavering marriage."

Emperor Yan's face turned pale: "A pure and unwavering marriage...?"

He felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.

These were the words he uttered while embracing Qingyue when he was deeply in love.

I only regret that I am not an ordinary mortal, unable to share a pure and unwavering love with Qingyue...

He also promised at the time that Qingyue would be the only love in his heart for the rest of his life.

I will never let her down.

Emperor Yan felt excruciating pain as he recalled the past.

But she still couldn't accept that all he wanted was a marriage decree.

"Over the years, I have repeatedly tried to bestow a marriage upon you, but you have always refused. Out of respect for your mother, I have not forced you."

"It seems that you have truly found the one you love?"

"But you're just a lowly concubine, how do you expect the world to view you?"

Duan Rongshi said, "My love for Lady Li is unwavering. How can I allow her to remain merely a concubine?"

“If I hadn’t known her lowly status, I would never have needed to use this imperial edict in my life.”

"I hope Father will grant my request, as this will make up for the regret you owed to Mother back then."

When Duan Rongshi brought up Consort Yue again, Emperor Yan seemed to have suffered a heavy blow and turned around to vomit blood.

Duan Rongshi, however, seemed not to see it at all, and remained kneeling quietly in front of the bed.

Emperor Yan stared intently at him, and only when he saw the ruthlessness in Duan Rongshi's eyes did he feel a sudden shock.

Only then did he vaguely understand.

Does this son hate him?

His and Qingyue's son actually hates him?

...

Li Qingluo's quick return to General Xiuli's mansion naturally surprised Old Madam Pei.

She clearly said she was going to Yangzhou, but she probably hasn't even reached the border of Yangzhou yet.

"Luo'er, did something happen on the road? You look much more haggard than your grandmother does."

Li Qing dismissed all the servants in the room and then summoned Doctor Luo and Dong Siyuan.

Then he obediently extended his hand, letting Dong Siyuan take his pulse first.

"Has my pulse changed compared to last time?"

Dong Siyuan felt her pulse and was startled.

"What...what's going on?"

"Young lady, the heat toxin in your body seems to have become so strong that it cannot be stopped, compared to what I felt a couple of days ago?"

"Last time it was only vaguely visible, but this time it is quite obvious."

"What exactly happened to you?"

Upon hearing this, Doctor Luo's expression changed, and he quickly reached out to take her pulse.

His face turned even uglier when he touched it.

The pulse is wiry and tight, and the pulse is slippery and rapid, indicating a strong burst of toxins in the body, resulting in excessive internal heat.

"Luo'er, you've been poisoned."

"Moreover, this poison is already close to entering your lungs and internal organs, so it must be extremely vicious and difficult to deal with, right?"

After Luo Fan finished speaking, he couldn't help but look at Madam Pei with concern.

Madam Pei's legs immediately went weak, and she grabbed Li Qingluo.

"Luo'er, what's wrong with you?"

"What kind of poison have you been given? Don't scare your grandmother!"