After a while,

After the Empress finished speaking, Shang Changge also finished his cup of tea.

The atmosphere quieted down.

Shang Changge looked at the Empress and said bluntly, "Mother, please speak your mind."

She didn't think the Empress had summoned her to the palace just to tell her that her beloved brother was coming back and to praise her.

The Empress rarely glanced at Shang Changge, noticing that her daughter was becoming increasingly intelligent. She took a sip of tea before speaking:

"Your mother, your maternal grandfather, and your uncle discussed and decided to ask your father for an imperial decree to grant you and Xiao Ji a marriage."

Shang Changge didn't respond this time, but looked at the Empress with a half-smile.

The Empress frowned, knowing that because of Xiao Ji's massacre of the city, the noble ladies of the capital were avoiding him like the plague.

I've also heard some unpleasant rumors about Xiao Ji and a pampered girl from a brothel, but Xiao Ji has military power.

For this reason,

This marriage would be entirely beneficial, and it would be best if it could be arranged. The various advantages that would follow would be significant.

To alleviate the last vestiges of maternal guilt the Empress felt towards her daughter, she sternly reprimanded her, speaking coldly:

What's with that expression? You don't want to?

Shang Changge put down her teacup, realizing that this wasn't something she could simply decide whether she wanted to or not.

"Whether I'm willing or not is irrelevant; the question is whether Xiao Ji is willing and whether Father Emperor agrees."

"I understand why my mother wants me to marry Xiao Ji. She wants to take advantage of my maternal grandfather's still-powerful position in the court."

I can understand why the Empress Dowager and other officials pressured the Emperor to grant them a marriage, but I have a suggestion for my mother.

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone the Emperor, who is no rabbit but the Son of Heaven. Pushing him too far might backfire.

"Besides..."

Shang Changge's cold and beautiful face was filled with mockery, and her words struck straight to the Empress's heart:

"If Xiao Ji doesn't like his daughter, the marriage will not be a union but a source of enmity."

Who can guarantee that he will stand by us after we marry?

Even assuming Xiao Jixin is fond of his daughter, how long can this feeling last?

Will this last until Aze successfully ascends the throne? The Empress Dowager must know all too well how men are prone to fickleness.

The Empress looked very upset, but Shang Changge's every word was logical and well-founded, leaving her with no way to refute him.

Suddenly I realized that it's not necessarily a good thing that my daughter has too many brains.

People who are too smart are hard to control.

Shang Changge let out a long sigh, his face showing maturity and earnestness:

"So, Mother, rather than risk angering Father by seeking that imperial decree of marriage whose outcome is uncertain,..."

Instead, we should calm down and think carefully about what conditions and benefits to offer.

Only then can we get Xiao Ji to willingly stand on our side and be used by us.

"After all, the feelings between men and women are a mix of truth and falsehood; they can appear or disappear in an instant."

But interests are different; once interests become intertwined between people...

Even if they were to fall out someday, they would be cautious and mindful of their actions, just like the current situation between Father and us.

Having said that,

Shang Changge gave a perfunctory bow and then strode away, leaving Fengyi Palace and the palace with Qingyao without any hesitation.

Admittedly,

She does desire more power and wealth, that's true, but if she were to obtain them...

If it requires her to sacrifice her marriage as a prerequisite, then it's better not to have it.

Why does she want power and wealth? Because power and wealth would make her more comfortable and free here!

If she agrees to marry Xiao Ji, it would be tantamount to erasing her free and unrestrained future. Wouldn't that be crazy?

Shang Changge declared that she was not sick!

Let whoever wants this messy marriage marry it. If they dare to force a marriage upon her, she'll pack her bags and wander the world with Xiao Qingyao.