Fu Xuechen: "I am attracted to the Princess, please grant me your blessing, Your Majesty!"
In order to rescue Qi Jinqian, Minister Qi was unable to sleep or eat for several days, and his spirit was once depressed.
His already old look became even older, and his gray hair made his face look haggard.
"Changle, I'm here to see His Majesty. Can you take me..."
Minister Qi saw Princess Changle from a distance and trotted towards her. His wrinkled face was flushed and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Princess Changle turned around and smiled, "Grandfather, I'm going to see my father. Please come with me!"
Minister Qi was breathing heavily, and Princess Changle slowed down her pace to accommodate him, as if she was strolling in a garden.
The grandfather and grandson received the eunuch's order and entered the emperor's Chaoyang Palace one after another.
The emperor sat at the top of Chaoyang Palace. He had heard that Minister Qi was coming to pay him a visit, but when the eunuch mentioned Princess Changle's name, the emperor softened his stance.
"Changle, you and Minister Qi, please take a seat. We are a family, so don't be polite. There are no outsiders here."
The emperor pointed to the seats below and signaled the two to sit down wherever they wanted without being bound by formalities.
Princess Changle raised her head after taking her seat and said straight to the point, "Father, I have a humble request. I hope you can fulfill it."
The emperor noticed that the grandfather and grandson had appeared before him together, perhaps instigated by someone beforehand. He frowned in dissatisfaction and asked, "Changle, are you also going to ask me to intercede with this minister and let your sixth uncle go?"
Princess Changle did not deny it. "Father, I am indeed here because of my sixth uncle's matter. I cannot bear to see your mother so anxious that she loses her appetite."
"It's only natural that you feel sorry for your mother, but your father was forced to do so. Your sixth uncle has violated the law, and the Ministry of Personnel has seized upon him and made a big fuss about it. If I were to step in and defend him, it would only further bolster the Prime Minister's power."
Although the emperor is lazy and greedy, he is not unfamiliar with the affairs of state. Fu Xuechen is currently in great power, but he does not distinguish right from wrong and insists on bending the law for personal gain. This emperor is about to reach the end of his ways.
"I have a way to break the impasse, but I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to let me give it a try?" After a night of careful consideration, Princess Changle boldly made an important decision.
This plan can help the Qi family escape, and also help the emperor enhance his majesty, benefiting both sides. However, I'm afraid she will have to give in. But after all, she is a royal girl.
In a political marriage, marrying anyone is the same. Instead of being sent to a foreign land for marriage in the future, it is better to marry someone nearby, live a decent life there, and return to the palace to visit relatives from time to time. Princess Changle has a clear understanding of her own destiny.
"Changle, we are father and daughter. Why hesitate to speak frankly if you have anything to say? I want to hear your opinion."
The emperor had complete faith in Princess Changle. His daughter was as talented and knowledgeable as any man. It was a pity that she was born a girl, otherwise the throne would have belonged to her.
"I beg Your Majesty to grant me a marriage and marry me to the Prime Minister. From then on, the Prime Minister will be your true son-in-law. In this way, for your sake, the Prime Minister will also let the Qi family go."
Princess Changle's idea coincided with Qi Jinqian's. The last time the two children and Su Qingli came to visit him in prison, before they left, Qi Jinqian wrote five words on Qi Mian's palm to hint to Minister Qi about how to save him: the eldest princess' marriage.
Qi Mian secretly conveyed a message to Qi Shangshu. When asked what Qi Shangshu meant by this, his grandfather Qi Shangshu tried to cover it up and gave his grandson a few perfunctory words.
He really didn't want to exchange his most beloved grandchild for the freedom of his most trusted son, so every time the words came to his lips, he couldn't say them in front of Queen Qi.
When Princess Changle said this, Minister Qi was dumbfounded. "Your Highness, are you really going to marry the Prime Minister?"
"Grandfather, I have made up my mind. You don't have to be surprised. I am a princess, and sooner or later I will embark on the path of political marriage." Princess Changle is smart. She is just of marriage age and has a young face, but a thoughtful heart.
The emperor nodded with satisfaction. Princess Changle's words were very much in line with his wishes. It was best to have Princess Changle consider the overall situation and restrain Fu Xuechen. "Changle has always been sensible and intelligent. I will grant you a marriage with the Prime Minister at tomorrow's morning court."
Minister Qi had a bitter look on his face. After all, he was not as far-sighted as the royal family. In the end, he was concerned about family ties and could not accept the fact that Princess Changle married Fu Xuechen.
The father and daughter were more open-minded than Minister Qi. The emperor invited them to the palace to enjoy the imperial meal. Princess Changle was as usual, acting as if nothing had happened, and filially served the dishes for the two of them.
The next morning, during the morning court session, the emperor sat upright on the dragon throne with a solemn expression. "My dear ministers, I have a very important announcement to make today. Princess Changle has reached marriageable age, and I wish to betroth her to Minister Fu."
No wonder the emperor did not seem to be bothered or annoyed by the dispute in the court this time. It turned out that he already had a way to reconcile the two sides. Marrying Princess Changle to Fu Xuechen was a good idea.
The prince consort and the emperor are one and the same, they prosper and suffer together.
As soon as the words came out, they shocked everyone, and the ministers in the court whispered to each other.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry I can't obey your order. I'm in love with another princess. I hope Your Majesty can grant me a marriage with Her Royal Highness the Princess. I've been attracted to Her Royal Highness the Princess for a long time. I beg Your Majesty to grant us this."
Princess Changle froze in place, her wish failed, her hope of rescuing Qi Jinqian was shattered, and Fu Xuechen actually liked her royal sister.
Her elder sister, the Princess Royal, was the Emperor's first child. Her mother died during premature birth and she was not given much attention by the Emperor. This was because the Princess Royal's mother was arranged by her parents and the matchmaker, and was not one of the Emperor's first marriages. Therefore, the Princess Royal was neglected by the Emperor as well.
All the ministers in the Golden Palace were shocked. It was obvious that Fu Xuechen did not want to fall into Princess Changle's plan. He released Qi Jinqian and then implicated the eldest princess to cover it up.
Dozens of eager eyes were all fixed on the emperor on the throne. Minister Qi felt uneasy when he heard Fu Xuechen's refusal. Success or failure depended on which daughter the emperor was willing to marry.
"Lord Fu, since your beloved is my eldest daughter, I will not force you to do anything. I will grant you a marriage with the eldest princess."
The emperor did not make things difficult for Fu Xuechen. Out of pity and indebtedness to his eldest daughter, he did not force Fu Xuechen and Princess Changle to get together. After all, the eldest princess was also his daughter.
Moreover, this daughter is very much like her mother in temperament, gentle and virtuous, always keeping to herself and not fighting or competing.
Fu Xuechen is in a high position and has great power, and the Qi Mansion is second only to Fu Xuechen. They are two different forces in the court. It would be disastrous if they really joined forces.
It would be better if they checked each other's chests so that he could sit securely on the throne.
"I thank Your Majesty for your grace."
Fu Xuechen knelt down and bowed deeply to the emperor to express his eager desire for this marriage.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com