At that moment, with a creaking sound, the palace gates slowly opened, and the emperor emerged, his face etched with rage. His eyes shone with majesty and fury, as if he saw through everything before him. "Jiang Yan, how dare you resist my command! Do you know what crime this is?" The emperor's voice boomed like thunder at the palace gates, shaking the air around them.
Jiang Yan's heart trembled, and he quickly let go of Su Jinli's hand. He knelt down and kowtowed again, his forehead pressed tightly to the ground. His voice was filled with a hint of awe and sincerity: "Your Majesty, please calm down. I have a deep affection for Su Jinli. Since I met her, my heart can no longer accommodate anyone else. I hope Your Majesty will help me and Jinli. I am willing to repay Your Majesty's kindness with my death."
The emperor's gaze swam back and forth between Jiang Yan and Su Jinli, a mixture of irritation and deep affection. He paced back and forth, his brow furrowed as he weighed the pros and cons. Jiang Yan was the newly crowned top scholar, a man of exceptional talent, destined for future service at the imperial court. Meanwhile, Su Jinli, the daughter of the prime minister, was no ordinary woman either. These two were perfectly matched, and forcing them apart seemed ill-advised.
"Su Jinli, tell me, what's going on?" The emperor turned his gaze to Su Jinli with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.
Su Jinli took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She bowed with an elegant and dignified posture: "Your Majesty, Jiang Yan and I are in love with each other. We have been through a lot since we met, and our feelings have grown deeper. I hope Your Majesty will withdraw the decree of marriage and help us, the lovers, to be together." Su Jinli's voice was crisp and pleasant, but with a hint of firmness and earnestness.
The emperor frowned, his face still gloomy: "Humph, you two seem to have deep feelings for each other. But my decree is not a joke. Can you take it back just like that? My words are golden. If you change them at will, where is the majesty of the court?" The emperor's words were like a heavy hammer, making Su Jinli and Jiang Yan's hearts sink.
Su Jinli gritted her teeth, pondering inwardly. After a moment, she raised her head and looked at the emperor with a firm gaze. "Your Majesty, I am willing to use my talent and knowledge to relieve your worries. I only ask for your approval. I know that your Majesty cares about the people and the lives of the people. Today, Dajing is a flourishing literary society, and vernacular novels are extremely popular among the people. However, most vernacular novels on the market are stereotyped, with similar plots and lack of novelty, making it difficult to meet the people's growing cultural needs. I am willing to use my talent and knowledge to create novel vernacular novels. Not only can they enrich the people's cultural life and provide them with entertainment after work, but they can also promote the prosperity of Dajing, showcase the customs and culture of our dynasty, and let more people understand Dajing and yearn for it."
The emperor was slightly startled, a flicker of interest in his eyes. He paused, his gaze resting on Su Jinli again, examining her carefully, as if trying to get to know her anew. "Oh? What talents and knowledge have you used to alleviate my worries? Tell me."
Su Jinli gathered herself and continued methodically, "Your Majesty, I have loved reading since childhood, and have dabbled in poetry, songs, and storytelling. Over the years, I have accumulated a wealth of unique story material and creative inspiration. The storytelling I will create will break the mold of traditional storytelling, incorporating more novel plots, vivid characters, and a profound understanding of life. At the same time, I will cleverly weave the history, culture, and customs of Dajing into the storytelling, allowing the people to enjoy the stories while broadening their horizons and strengthening their sense of identity and pride in our dynasty. This will not only enrich the people's cultural lives, but also subtly promote Dajing's prosperity and enhance the cultural influence of our dynasty."
The emperor pondered for a moment, his gaze shifting between Su Jinli and Jiang Yan, pondering the feasibility of Su Jinli's suggestion. He knew the importance of culture to a nation, and if he could truly create a novel and meaningful storybook, as Su Jinli suggested, it would be a boon for Dajing.
"Okay, I'll give you a chance. Three days later, Su Jinli, if you can present a script that satisfies me, I will withdraw my decree of marriage. If not, Jiang Yan, you still have to marry Princess Wan Ning." The emperor finally spoke, with a hint of majesty and determination in his voice.
Jiang Yan and Su Jinli exchanged a glance, a resolute glint in their eyes. They knelt and kowtowed simultaneously, their voices resounding and unisoned: "Thank you, Your Majesty!" This thank you was filled with gratitude to the Emperor and hope for the future. They knew that these three days would be crucial in determining their fate. They must give their all, worthy of their mutual affection and this rare opportunity bestowed upon them by the Emperor.
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