Chapter 16
After the Shangsi Flower Appreciation Banquet ended, Xie Qinghong returned home and heard from his cousin and aunt that he had found someone he liked and asked his family to go to the Duke of Qin's mansion to propose marriage on his behalf.
Aunt Zhang was very happy. After all, the Qin State Duke's family was of noble birth and was a good match for the Xie family. Moreover, the Minister of the Imperial Clan was favored by the Emperor. If they could form a marriage alliance with the Qin family, it would be a good thing for the Xie family.
Zhang was so happy that she couldn't wait until the next day to come and discuss the marriage proposal with Liang Yu. While her aunt was away for a while, Xie Qinghong quickly informed her mother: "Today the Empress is hosting a banquet. The ladies are wearing flower hairpins, and the gentlemen are choosing folding fans. Each fan has a flower name inscribed on it, and only those who choose a pair are considered destined for each other. Qin Yu chose a peach blossom, which matches the 'Peach Blossom' on the Prince of Nan's folding fan."
In just a few words, Liang Yu understood and was shocked: "Then what happened to your cousin? The marriage of the Prince of Nan should have been arranged by His Majesty. Does the Qin family know anything about your cousin's situation?"
Xie Qinghong shook his head: "I don't know, but all these arrangements have come to nothing, and I'm worried that His Majesty will be angry."
When his aunt returned, Xie Qinghong, as a junior, did not want to speak directly to her, so Liang Yu brought it up indirectly: "This flower viewing banquet was originally for the Southern Prince's son to choose a wife, but this time the Southern Prince's son did not find a suitable person, so this matter is probably not appropriate."
Auntie was displeased upon hearing this: "The Empress has invited so many young ladies. Just because the Prince of Nan hasn't succeeded doesn't mean others can't. Besides, what is our family's status? Why should we have to worry about so many things?"
This eldest sister-in-law, perhaps because of her noble birth, was born into a privileged position and never had to worry about anything, so she was never very shrewd. Liang Yu had no choice but to reason with her: "Sister-in-law, you can't say such things outside. Our family is prominent, but there are always those who are even more distinguished. I'm not worried for no reason, but the Qin family is close to His Majesty, and family marriages may require His Majesty's approval."
Aunt smiled dismissively: "Not to mention the distant past, how many leaders have come and gone in the last one or two hundred years, yet our major families have remained standing. Families should naturally be closely connected. I've already asked Qingke, and he gets along well with the Qin family's daughter. We've been related to the Qin family by marriage for generations, and we can't let that break off in this generation."
Before Liang Yu could offer any further advice, her aunt, already displeased, stood up and said, "I wanted to ask you to help me with my advice, but you always bring up these irrelevant topics. Fine, I'll think about it myself and not bother you."
Seeing her aunt's attitude, Xie Qinghong knew that talking to her about this matter would be useless. It would be better to ask her father and brothers to persuade her uncle, who, as the head of the Xie clan, always considered things thoroughly.
On the other side, Xie Qingzhou had already told his father and brother everything, including the matter of the Zhao family girl's face being injured. When the two matters were mentioned together, Xie Wen frowned deeply. Knowing Emperor Xingde's temperament well, he sighed after a long time: "A gentleman should stand in the court. Using marriage to control others is not a long-term solution. I will go and talk to my brother in detail tomorrow."
However, news spread from the palace early the next morning that the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court had swallowed his pride before the Emperor and said that his granddaughter and the son of the Marquis of Pingning were childhood sweethearts and deeply in love, and that the two families wished to get married.
With the Qin family's statement made earlier, Emperor Xingde summoned Marquis Pingning, Xie Zhen, to the palace to inquire whether the matter was indeed true. The Xie and Qin families had been on good terms for generations, and there were some unspoken understandings among aristocratic families. Xie Zhen had not had time to inform his younger brother, who was the Grand Secretary, earlier, but he had already considered it on the way. His Majesty still needed the support of aristocratic families to stabilize the court, and such a trivial matter as a marriage between children was insignificant. Therefore, he stated directly that the two families had arranged a marriage between their children since birth.
Emperor Xingde, instead of being angry, smiled and said, “Then I would like to congratulate you two ministers in advance. However, I have already promised to choose a marriage alliance for the Prince of the South with a family from the capital. I cannot break my promise. Although the South is desolate and thousands of miles away, it is still better than Tusha. I have heard that you have a young daughter who is not yet betrothed?”
Xie Zhen had not expected Emperor Xingde to be so blunt, and dared not say more: "My youngest daughter is only twelve years old."
Emperor Xingde clapped his hands and laughed: "In the Tusha Kingdom, girls can marry at the age of twelve. What do you think, Xie Qing?"
Xie Zhen's mind raced, and he quickly said, "I have a niece who is sixteen years old and not yet engaged. She is quiet and gentle, and is a perfect match for the Prince of Nan."
Emperor Xingde feigned hesitation: "Is she the daughter of the Grand Secretary? I've heard that your brother cherishes the youngest daughter in the family like a treasure, how could he bear to let her marry far away? Your brother shares the same fatherly sentiments as you, Xie Qing."
He paused deliberately, and interrupted Xie Zhen just as he was about to speak: "I am not forcing you. My only niece has been sent to Tusha, which is similar to Xie Qing's deep love for his daughter. I am uneasy day and night. But how can I be confined to my family for the sake of the nation? Therefore, I summoned Xie Qing here not to discuss family matters, but to discuss national affairs. If the Xie family is willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, I will certainly not treat them unfairly."
Xie Zhen had only used his niece as a shield in a moment of panic, but after Emperor Xingde finished speaking, he had already made up his mind. For him, nothing was more attractive than the glory of the Xie family.
Emperor Xingde's deep voice floated in his ears: "In the past, the Xie family was full of glory and honor, and they were even dukes."
Duke! The Xie family's ancestral title had to be downgraded after three generations, so they are now only one of the marquises. If the Xie family can restore its former glory under his rule, then Xie Zhen will be the Duke. With the Xie family's foundation, how can they not become the number one family in Dasheng!
"For the sake of our prosperous dynasty, the Xie family would not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths." Xie Zhen suppressed the excitement that was about to overflow from his heart, kowtowed and replied to the emperor on the throne, "My brother and I both value the affairs of the country. We will certainly be able to sacrifice our small family for the greater good. I beg Your Majesty to grant the Xie family's wish to serve the country."
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