Chapter 99: Granted Marriage◇
The Zhou Family Courtyard in the west of the city...
The angel who announced the decree had just left...
The expressions on the Zhou family members' faces were simply wonderful...
Especially Zhou Jin, whose face was as gloomy as if a storm was about to come...
When Zhu Xi saw this, he was so frightened that he hid behind Zhou Yu and begged for mercy towards Zhou Jin who was walking towards him:
"Brother Jin, I really don't know about this!? You know, I've been with you all these days. How could I have known what my grandfather had done to suddenly arrange a marriage between me and Ayu..."
He had just had a huge fight with his grandfather a while ago, and he thought he had won, that his grandfather would never interfere with his and A-Yu's affairs again!?
Who knew that he would actually grant the marriage without even saying a word?!
Fortunately, the old man gave Ayu a principal wife, not some concubine he often mentioned. Otherwise, Zhu Xi felt that Zhou Jin would have killed him right in front of the eunuch who announced the decree...
Zhou Jin didn't want to listen to his explanation at this moment. He just wanted to pull him out from behind Zhou Yu and beat him up first...
This guy is really too much. He actually dared to use his power to oppress others on his sister!
In the past, he allowed this guy to show his affection to his sister, thinking that his sister was not too disgusted by this guy. Although this guy had no other advantages, he could always make his sister happy.
In addition, Zhou Jin felt that Zhu Xi had indeed changed a lot in the past two years and had learned to plan for himself... But his feelings for his sister had not changed as before...
Therefore, Zhou Jin turned a blind eye to the matter between him and his sister, thinking that it was up to his sister to decide for herself. If his sister liked it, then he would accept it!
Who knew this guy would actually have his grandfather arrange a marriage for him?!
Zhou Jin felt that no matter whether this arranged marriage was his idea or not, he couldn't accept it! How could a man who couldn't even control his own marriage protect his sister in the future?
So, he decided to beat this guy up and then take his family away, whether to another country or hide in space, anyway, he couldn't let his sister be taken away by them!
…
Zhou Jin was so angry after hearing the imperial edict that he wanted to beat someone up. Zhou Yu was so frightened by his brother's expression that he quickly protected Zhu Xi behind him and explained to Zhou Jin:
"Brother, actually this matter..."
"Ayu, stop talking! I know everything. Don't worry, I will never let you suffer any injustice!"
Zhou Jin thought Zhou Yu was trying to take responsibility for this matter herself, so he immediately interrupted her, pushed her aside, and reached out to grab Zhu Xi behind her...
Zhou Yu stumbled twice before he could stand steady after being pushed by his brother. Seeing that his brother was really angry this time, he hurriedly explained:
"Brother! Actually, I really..."
But she was interrupted by her mother's scream!
"Brother Jin! You can't be impulsive!"
…
Zheng and the others were also shocked after hearing the imperial edict. However, in Zheng's opinion, although she did not want her daughter Ayu to marry into the royal family, she felt that since Emperor Chengqian had already issued the edict, nothing could be changed! If they resisted, it would be a huge disaster in an instant!
What's more, the emperor has bestowed upon Ayu the position of principal wife this time. If their family still objects, anyone who hears it will think that they are ungrateful!
So, when she saw Zhou Jin about to beat Zhu Xi, Zheng rushed forward, hugged her son, and cried and begged...
When Zhou Zelin and others saw this, they hurried to dissuade them!
Zhou Yu... saw it and said hurriedly:
"Everyone listen to me, I am actually..."
But what he said was drowned out by his brother's scolding...
Zhou Jin was surrounded by his mother and his uncle Ze Lin, so he didn't hit Zhu Xi. He was so angry that he pointed at Zhu Xi and cursed:
"You'd better go back and ask your grandfather to revoke his order. Otherwise, you know what I can do. If your family dares to threaten my sister, I will kill you!!!"
Except for Zhu Xi who knew that he was telling the truth, everyone else thought that he was mad with anger. Zhou Zelin was so scared that he covered his mouth with his hand. If these words were to reach the ears of Emperor Cheng Qian, Brother Jin would be dead!
Zhou Po, Zhou Luo, and the others who followed also tried to dissuade him...
The chaotic chatter drowned out Zhou Yu's words once again...
Everyone was trying to persuade Zhou Jin to calm down, and in fact, they all wanted him to accept the reality. Only Mu Qingni not only did not persuade him, but also snorted coldly after hearing it:
"If the safety of my family is at the cost of my sister's life, then I don't want that safety at all!"
After saying this, he shouted towards Zhu Xi:
"Zhu Xi, since Ayu doesn't want to marry you, why force her? Why don't I accompany you to meet the emperor? You can talk to him and maybe he will change his mind!"
Zhu Xi felt that this was the only way out, so he nodded reluctantly and planned to follow Mu Qingni back to the palace...
Zhou Yu, who had shouted until his voice was hoarse, shouted at the top of his lungs one last time:
"Everyone, listen to me! I agreed to this arranged marriage!!"
This shout almost broke Zhou Yu's throat! After shouting, Zhou Yu started coughing violently, but finally everyone heard her words...
Zhou Jin...
Zhu Xi...
Everyone...
…
It turned out that on the day Zhu Xi and others went to check the accounts at Prime Minister Hu's residence, Eunuch Lu personally went to the hot spring villa and privately found Zhou Yu, saying that Emperor Chengqian wanted to summon her...
Because Emperor Chengqian had instructed that this matter be kept secret, Eunuch Lu had come this time under the name of the Princess. Zhou Yu knew Eunuch Lu, so after learning about it, he didn't tell the Zheng family to avoid worrying them. He simply lied that he was going to stay at the Princess's residence in Kyoto for a few days to help her recuperate, and then followed Eunuch Lu into the palace...
Actually, Zhou Yu was a little panicked at the time, not knowing why Emperor Chengqian suddenly summoned her, but relying on the space she had, she followed him...
But before leaving, just in case, she left a note for her brother in her space...
But I didn't expect Zhou Jin to be so busy recently that he hadn't even entered the space...
…
Zhou Yu entered the palace with a trepidation in her heart, but Emperor Chengqian didn't even explain why he summoned her. He simply asked her to take over the job of the eunuch beside him and become a palace maid serving tea and water for him...
Zhou Yu...
Since Emperor Chengqian was the biggest boss in the world, Zhou Yu couldn't afford to offend him. He could only hold his anger and decided to wait and see. So, he carefully took over the job and started working...
Zhou Yu may not have many other qualities, but he has a strong ability to guide himself, so he easily adapted to his new job and was busy serving tea and water all day long...
She didn't care whether Emperor Chengqian was an emperor or not, she just treated him as a difficult old patient, and patiently dealt with all kinds of difficulties from Emperor Chengqian every day...
Perhaps it was Zhou Yu's good temper that touched Emperor Cheng Qian, but seven days later, after finishing his work, Emperor Cheng Qian finally had a talk with her...
"What would you think if I asked you to be Xier's concubine?!" Emperor Cheng Qian asked straight to the point.
Zhou Yu actually had a hunch that Emperor Chengqian's summons might be related to Zhu Xi, but she didn't expect him to be so direct...
Although I thought in my heart: I won’t even be your grandson’s main wife, let alone a concubine! But I didn’t dare to say it, so I could only make an excuse:
"I am still young, and a Taoist priest said that it is not suitable for me to marry early."
Emperor Cheng Qian… “Then you can get engaged first!”
Zhou Yu added, "I am a humble girl with limited talent and knowledge, and I'm afraid I'm not worthy of the Fifth Emperor's grandson!"
Emperor Cheng Qian… “It’s okay, my fifth grandson isn’t that great either, you two are no better than me, so there’s no need for anyone to laugh at you later!”
Zhou Yu… “I am a commoner girl of humble origin and have no moral standards. I am afraid I am not suitable to marry into the royal family…”
Emperor Cheng Qian… “I see you’ve been doing pretty well these past few days, haven’t you? If you don’t know the rules, you can learn them later…”
Zhou Yu: "I have sworn an oath that I will never be your concubine!"
Emperor Cheng Qian: "Then I will make you my principal wife!"
Zhou Yu...why did she feel like she'd been tricked?!
"My humble daughter..."
"Okay, stop being a commoner..."
Emperor Cheng Qian's patience finally ran out. He could see that this girl was just like his grandson said, looking down on him and the royal family! He couldn't help but feel angry, so he frowned and said:
"I'm giving you face by letting you be my granddaughter-in-law. Since you're in such a dilemma, I'll give you three options! Either you become Xi'er's princess! Or you and your family return to Liaodong! Or you go straight to a nunnery and never marry again!"
Emperor Cheng Qian thought that even if Zhou Yu was a fool, he would choose the first option. However, Zhou Yu thought for a while and replied:
"I choose the second one!"
Emperor Cheng Qian... said angrily:
"You little girl! You would rather your family follow you to Liaodong and continue to suffer than become my grandson's daughter-in-law?!
This is outrageous!
What's wrong with my grandson?! Why do you despise him so much?! Or do you already have someone else in your heart? That's why you look down on my grandson?!
Zhou Yu...
I thought to myself, you asked me to choose from three paths, and now you're going back on your word and not satisfied?!
So I got angry:
"Your Majesty, didn't you let me choose from the three paths? Why are you angry again after I made my choice? Is it because my choice is different from what you expected?!
To be honest, I don't think Zhu Xi is a bad person, and I don't have anyone else in my heart, but I just feel that being forced to move forward is particularly boring, and I don't want to get involved in the royal family's intrigue. If Your Majesty insists on forcing me to marry Zhu Xi, then I would rather return to Liaodong with my whole family, or simply never marry!
Anyway, there is nothing good about getting married in ancient times. Zhou Yu really wants to stay single for the rest of her life. It's not like she can't support herself, so why should she endure having three wives and four concubines and all the rules and ethics?
Emperor Chengqian...
After observing her for the past few days, Emperor Cheng Qian was actually quite satisfied with Zhou Yu. No matter how he threatened her, she always smiled calmly, showing no fear at all. Sometimes, she even dared to offer a few words of advice when he was scolding her.
Emperor Cheng Qian felt that as a princess, she should be so courageous, and this girl was also very smart. Although she had never done these chores of serving tea and grinding ink before, she got the hang of it in less than an hour after taking over, and did it in an orderly manner. Even Eunuch Lu praised this girl for her quick learning when he saw her!
So at this moment, Emperor Cheng Qian had actually already approved of this grandson's wife in his heart, but he didn't expect that Zhou Yu would be so opposed to marrying her to his grandson!
"Yu girl! From what you've said, it seems you don't dislike Xi'er at all?! Then why are you so against being the prince's consort?! Since you're not even afraid of going to a nunnery or Liaodong, why are you afraid of marrying my grandson?"
Emperor Chengqian saw that coercion was not working, so he turned to bribery.
"Think about it yourself. Apart from those rules, what's wrong with marrying my grandson? Xi'er has the looks, the money, and she loves you so much! When you get married, won't she obey you in everything?
As for those rules, how can anyone live in this world as they please? As the emperor, I can't just do whatever I want, right? With your intelligence, those rules shouldn't be a problem for you, right?!
Besides, even if you don’t marry into the royal family but marry someone else, can you escape those rules?
As for your statement of never marrying, that's not something you can just say. Unless you become a nun, according to Dayan law, if a woman is still unmarried by the age of 25, she will be forced to marry by official matchmakers. If they assign you a pockmarked face, you'll have to marry a pockmarked face. If they assign you a hunchback, you'll have to marry a hunchback!"
…
Zhou Yu... Damn!!
How could Dayan still have such a shabby rule? How could she not know this? So, she couldn't even choose not to get married?!
If that's the case, she really doesn't have any choice.
Or become a monk?
But she hates being bald, and even practicing with hair is not acceptable because she loves to eat meat...
Either take the whole family and escape, live somewhere else or hide in space?
But that meant leaving her hometown, and Zhou Yu felt that was too unfair to her mother and the others...
Or just marry someone...
So instead of just picking someone, why not pick Zhu Xi? At least he's pleasing to the eye and we can get along...
As for the future, if he wanted to have three wives and four concubines, or if he no longer liked her, then she could just divorce him...
If divorce doesn't work, she'll find a farm to move into and live separately from him...
The more Zhou Yu thought about it, the more she felt that this was a good idea, so she agreed to Emperor Chengqian's proposal to marry her to Zhu Xi...
The author has something to say:
Thank you to all my friends who have been reading my articles. Cai Cai’s new article "Fei Shi Yanran" will be published at the beginning of next month. I am collecting it now. Please help me go to the author’s homepage and collect it!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com