Chapter 64 Earl Anle and Princess Chengbi
Chapter Sixty-Four: Earl of Anle and Princess Chengbi
Inside the West Garden's martial arts training ground, the atmosphere was bustling with noise and the sounds of drums and horns. The Empress Dowager, still recuperating, did not attend the event in person.
On the high throne, Su Su, dressed in a simple yet luxurious palace gown, watched with great interest the athletes galloping on horseback and ready to fire their bows. Occasionally, she would pick up a piece of delicate pastry and put it in her mouth, or sip a sip of warm fruit wine.
Her gaze searched through the crowd and soon spotted her elder brother, Su Jizhi's, agile figure, as he focused intently on preparing for the next round of archery and horsemanship. Her gaze then shifted to the seating area for the children of officials, where she saw Pei Yunxi also looking in her direction. Their eyes met, and Pei Yunxi smiled and gave a slight bow, to which Su Su responded with a smile and a nod.
Because Mu Hanyan was nearing her due date and her body was heavy, Pei Xuan stayed at home to take care of her and did not come.
Just as he was engrossed in reading, the wine cup in his hand was gently taken away by the person beside him. Li Qianche frowned, his tone filled with unquestionable concern: "Why are you drinking again? The imperial physician repeatedly warned you that you need to take good care of your health, and that you should limit your intake of cold, spicy, and greasy foods, but you never listen."
Su Su pouted her rosy lips and reached out to snatch the wine glass back, but her small hand was enveloped by his warm, large palm and she couldn't move. Just as she was about to protest, she heard him whisper in her ear, "Be good, I'll have the imperial kitchen roast a whole lamb for you tonight, with your favorite spices."
Su Su had a craving for food, especially for roasted lamb that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with an irresistible aroma. Li Qianche knew this about her preferences and always managed to satisfy her perfectly.
Sure enough, Su Su's eyes lit up slightly upon hearing this, and her slight dissatisfaction vanished instantly. She even took the opportunity to make a request: "Then... I'd like a braised pork knuckle with rock sugar!"
Li Qianche was amused by her greedy look, reached out and pinched her delicate cheek, and said affectionately, "Alright, as you wish. My little glutton."
Their intimate interaction, oblivious to everyone else, was observed by those watching from below the stage. Princess Chengbi, seeing that Li Qianche's gaze remained fixed on Su Su, seemingly ignoring her previous brilliant performance, was filled with jealousy and resentment, and could no longer contain herself.
She abruptly stood up, walked to the throne, and called out, "Your Majesty! The competition is so exciting that Chengbi is itching to join in and try her skills. I beg Your Majesty's permission!"
Li Qianche's gaze did not linger on her; he simply replied, "Granted."
Chengbi was overjoyed and immediately went to prepare. Having grown up on horseback since childhood, she was skilled in archery and horsemanship, giving her a clear advantage over the daughters of officials and a few concubines who were raised in seclusion and only had a rudimentary understanding of riding and archery. She mounted her horse with nimble movements, controlled it steadily, and shot every arrow without missing its mark, overcoming all obstacles and indeed winning first place.
She returned to the platform with high spirits, her face filled with pride and anticipation, and said to Li Qianche, "Your Majesty, Chengbi has won!"
Li Qianche remained calm and casually said, "Not bad. Here's the reward." Then a eunuch brought out the brocade and gold and silver that had been prepared beforehand.
This perfunctory attitude greatly disappointed Cheng Bi. Resentfully, she turned to Su Su, her tone provocative: "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine has been sitting high on the platform watching the competition. You must be hiding your true abilities. Would you be so kind as to come down and have a match with Cheng Bi, so that we can also broaden our horizons?"
Su Su put down her teacup, her expression calm: "Your Highness is too kind. I am indeed not good at riding and archery, and I'm afraid I will spoil Your Highness's enjoyment."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Bi's eyes flashed with a hint of contempt, and she laughed, "Why is Your Highness so modest? Are noble ladies of the Central Plains only skilled in embroidery and butterfly-catching? They should also learn more about skills that strengthen the body and protect the country." The sarcasm in her words was undisguised.
Before Su Su could speak, Princess Changning, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly interrupted with a cold laugh: "Princess Chengbi, you may not know, but our Noble Consort has been pampered like this since she was a child. She is pampered and precious. How would she know about these hard things? When she was a child, she only knew how to follow our Emperor around. Her mind was not on these things."
She deliberately phrased "following the emperor around" in an ambiguous way, implying that Su Su had impure thoughts since childhood.
After hearing this, Cheng Bi looked at Su Su with even more disdain, as if she were looking at a useless vase who only knew how to depend on men.
Su Su was not angry. She simply looked up at Princess Changning, her tone calm but with a hint of sharpness: "I am curious, Princess Changning, how come you are so well-informed after spending so many years outside the capital practicing Buddhism? You even know all the trivial matters of my childhood. Could it be that old stories from the palace have spread to Puning Temple, a hundred miles away?" These words directly implied that the Princess Changning had planted spies in the palace to gather information.
The eldest princess's expression changed slightly, but she forced herself to remain calm and retorted, "Why does Your Highness pretend not to know? Back then, your 'infatuation' with the Emperor caused quite a stir in the city. Your reputation has long since spread beyond the palace. Why would I need to inquire about it?" She deliberately distorted the facts, making Su Su's sincere feelings sound unbearable.
“Aunt.” Li Qianche’s voice turned cold, carrying an undeniable pressure, “You are cultivating in the temple, so you should focus on the Buddhist teachings. It’s best to listen to as little of these unverifiable rumors as possible, lest they disturb your peace.”
The eldest princess was momentarily speechless, her face flushed with embarrassment, but she remained undeterred and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I am only thinking of the royal family's reputation. Princess Chengbi is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and has a strong physique; she is clearly a woman destined to bear sons. Currently, the imperial harem lacks male heirs, and we need women like her to continue the royal line. Since Your Majesty admires the princess, why not bring her into the palace sooner to fill the inner palace?"
Princess Chengbi was overjoyed upon hearing this, and her face immediately flushed. She looked at Li Qianche with tender affection, awaiting his response.
However, Li Qianche didn't even glance at Chengbi. His gaze swept over Princess Changning, and a meaningful smile curved his lips: "Since Aunt admires Princess Chengbi so much, I shouldn't take away what Aunt loves. How about this, I will bestow the title of 'Earl of Anle' upon Aunt's son, and choose an auspicious day to marry Princess Chengbi as her countess. In this way, Aunt's affection for the princess will be fulfilled, and the friendship between our two countries will also be maintained. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"
These words shocked the entire audience!
Princess Chengbi's face drained of color instantly. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she screamed, "What, Marquis Anle? I don't want it! I..." Before she could finish speaking, the immense humiliation and disappointment made it impossible for her to stay any longer. She turned and ran away crying.
Prince Zhuo Ke, who had just returned from the competition, happened to see this scene and hurriedly stepped forward, bowing and begging for forgiveness: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Cheng Bi is young and ignorant, willful and reckless, and has offended Your Majesty! I will certainly discipline her strictly when I return! This marriage... is a blessing from the Celestial Empire, and the Southwest Kingdom is extremely grateful. We will definitely prepare the dowry on a chosen day and send my sister to the Princess's residence to complete the marriage!"
Although he felt that this marriage was unfair to his sister, he could also see that the fact that the emperor had not mentioned the matter of making a consort for so long showed that he did not like Chengbi at all. But what room for bargaining did a defeated country have? Being able to obtain the title of countess was already considered respectable.
Li Qianche's expression softened slightly, and he said calmly, "It's good that the prince understands. Since Princess Chengbi is about to marry into our dynasty, she should learn the etiquette and manners of the Central Plains properly and not be so disrespectful again."
Zhuo Ke readily agreed and took his leave.
Princess Changning's face was stiff, as if she had swallowed a fly. Her original intention was to push Princess Chengbi to Li Qianche to annoy Su Su, but she didn't expect to get herself into trouble. The emperor actually took the opportunity to give the girl to her son! She looked at Li Qianche, who was calm on the throne, and felt both hatred and fear in her heart.
However, since things had come to this point, she couldn't refute it. At least... she had earned a title for the son she didn't like. Although he had no real power and wasn't included in the imperial genealogy, at least he had a formal status.
She gritted her teeth inwardly. If she hadn't been bewitched back then, using that potent drug on Su Mufeng and then, by a twist of fate, having intimate relations with a lowly servant, thus damaging her reproductive health and rendering her infertile for life, why would she have had to give birth to this bastard child? Why would she have been rejected by her father, punished to a temple for solitary cultivation, ruining her life? Now, all her hopes rest on this son who bears the mark of her shame, and she has no choice but to plan for his future…
As the competition drew to a close, Li Qianche and Su Su rose to prepare for their return to the palace. Passing Princess Changning, he paused slightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Aunt, your return to the capital this time must be for the sake of your son's marriage. In that case, let's wait until Princess Chengbi has a grand and glorious marriage into the Princess's residence before you return to Puning Temple to continue your spiritual practice. After all, residing in the temple is what the Emperor Taizu expected of you, Aunt, and it is also the way to cultivate your character."
Upon hearing this, Princess Changning trembled, her face turning deathly pale, and she almost fainted.
The emperor's words were clearly a warning to her to behave herself and not to interfere in palace affairs again, and he also made it clear to her that after the matter was over, she still needed to return to that austere temple!
Li Qianche stopped looking at her, his eyes unfathomable. His aunt had gone too far. He gently took Su Su's hand, and amidst the respectful farewells of the crowd, they left side by side, leaving the hustle and bustle of the martial arts arena behind.
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