The emperor pursed his lips and shook his head. "The matter in the south is of utmost importance and cannot be resolved in a short time. If the crown prince were to rashly return for your marriage alliance, the consequences would be unimaginable."

So… Yang'er… Father knows you and your siblings are very close, but I cannot grant you this request.”

Even if the situation in the south wasn't important, the emperor wouldn't allow the crown prince to return.

“Father…” Rong Yang looked at him, her eyes full of pleading, “But if I cannot see my elder brother before I go to the Great Jing, he will feel guilty for the rest of his life.”

He would hate himself for not protecting his sister.

Even just meeting once would be nice...

She was almost in despair, but the emperor remained unmoved. He said, "Yang'er... you should understand that you three siblings have a deep bond since childhood. If the Crown Prince finds out that you are going to marry a foreign ruler, he will definitely act like A'ning did."

But he was different from A Ning. He was the crown prince, the heir apparent of the country. If he were as unruly as A Ning, how could he gain the trust of the people?

Therefore, I have given a strict order that the news of your marriage alliance must not reach the ears of the Crown Prince.

Anyone who disobeys orders will be executed immediately.

If he finds out about this later, and if he wants to hate his father, then so be it; it's all for his own good.

"Yang'er...you've been clever since you were little, you should know that your father did the right thing!"

Is that right?

It's not wrong to weigh the pros and cons, but is it also reasonable?

Rong Yang felt a tightness in her throat, making it hard to breathe.

Everyone says she should be sensible and prioritize the big picture, but what's wrong with wanting to see the people she cares about before she leaves?

Rong Yang turned her face to one side, tears sliding down her cheeks and falling incessantly. She sat there quietly, without saying a word, crying silently.

The emperor looked up and for a moment, he thought of his wife who had died many years ago.

Rongyang is the one of the three children who looks most like their mother, both in appearance and personality.

This is also why the emperor has favored Rong Yang for many years.

He was heartbroken and stood up. He walked to Rong Yang's side, gently patted her back, and said, "Yang'er... Father admits that I owe you something that I can never make up for in this lifetime."

I feel guilty, but there's nothing I can do.

"Alright then... I'll grant you everything except for sending your elder brother back to Nanyang City, is that alright?"

Rong Yang's heart is dead...

Ultimately...

never mind…

They never had many choices.

Since that's the case, let's try to get something out of it.

Rong Yang quickly thought it over, composed himself, looked up, raised his teary eyes, and said in a hoarse voice, "Father... Today I went back to the Chengen Marquis's residence to visit my maternal grandmother, and they asked about the Imperial Concubine."

Imperial Concubine?

The emperor frowned. "Did they ask you about choosing an empress?"

Rong Yang paused for a moment, then nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Then what do you think? Does Yang'er also hope that the Imperial Concubine can be made Empress?"

What could she possibly think? Just wild speculation…

Rong Yang sniffed, lowered his head and wiped away his tears with a handkerchief, and replied, "Father... the appointment of an empress is a matter of national importance, and should be decided by you and the court officials. I do not understand."

"oh?"

Rong Yang took a deep breath, her reddened eyes looking at her father, and said sadly, "Father, whether you believe it or not, I don't care who becomes empress. The only people I care about are my brother, the Crown Prince, and A Ning."

She slowly rose, then knelt directly before the emperor, bowing her head and kowtowing, firmly stating, "Father just said that, apart from allowing my elder brother to return to Nanyang City, he can grant me everything else..."

"Then I... would like to request two things from Father Emperor, hoping for Your Majesty's permission!"

She was incredibly sincere, as if she wouldn't get up unless you responded.

The emperor did not respond immediately; his hand, which was behind his back, rubbed lightly, his eyes unfathomable.

After a long while, he said, "Which two things are they? Tell me. If Father can do them, he will not let you down."

Rong Yang suppressed his complex emotions and said, word by word, "The first thing I hope for is that no matter who becomes empress in the end, Father Emperor must not allow them to harbor any delusions that could shake my elder brother's position."

No matter how treacherous the court may become, or how sordid and filthy the power struggles within the harem may be, Father, you must stand firmly behind my elder brother, just as you do now.

Under imperial power, the emperor's trust and favor are more important than anything else.

The emperor narrowed his eyes and replied, "The Crown Prince is the first child of your mother and me. I have raised him with great care and nurtured him into the upright and accomplished man he is today, so that he can shoulder great responsibilities in the future. I value the Crown Prince more than you do, so you can rest assured about this."

Okay... The eldest son is different after all.

Rong Yang closed his eyes briefly and continued, "The second thing is that I beg Father to grant A Ning her freedom. She should be an eagle soaring in the sky, not confined to the inner palace by her status as a princess."

Your Majesty, I request that Your Majesty grant Aning a title and bestow upon her a princess's residence outside the palace. Furthermore, if Aning wishes to return to the army in the future, I beg Your Majesty not to obstruct her, but to allow her to do as she pleases.