"Zheng Hongye, is the woman behind you your legitimate daughter? Is she married?"
Emperor Wenjian asked the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.
Upon being called upon, Zheng Hongye immediately rose in alarm and replied, "Your Majesty, it is indeed my daughter, who is not yet fifteen and is not yet married."
"Oh, have you read any books? Are you lively or carefree?"
"Your Majesty, my daughter is reserved and shy. At home, she often reads books that women like, such as 'Admonitions for Women,' 'Virtues for Women,' and 'Instructions for Women.'"
Zheng Hongye replied nervously, not daring to lie at all.
He had several sons, but only one legitimate daughter.
I don't know how her mother raised her. She is usually very timid and has an average appearance. I don't know how she caught the emperor's eye.
Would the Emperor really make her the Princess Consort of Chu?
How can she possibly manage her timid daughter?
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wenjian took another careful look at Zheng Hongye's daughter. She sat there honestly and dignifiedly, with clear eyes and simple attire.
She appeared to be an extremely virtuous and dutiful woman, and I was quite satisfied with her.
He hoped that the King of Chu would marry a queen who wouldn't cause trouble or be high-profile.
So he smiled and said, "I think your daughter is quite good. Since she is unmarried, I will bestow her in marriage to the Prince of Chu. After she comes of age, we will choose an auspicious day for her to marry into the Prince of Chu's household."
Emperor Wenjian made the final decision, and Consort Liu was so angry that she gritted her teeth.
The daughter of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy?
That was only a fourth-rank official, far from the daughter-in-law she desired.
Originally, he had planned to marry Xiao Churen to the daughter of a first-rank Grand Tutor or the daughter of a second-rank military officer, but he never thought of marrying the daughter of a fourth-rank official.
Moreover, seeing that Zheng Hongye's daughter seemed rather dim-witted and quite ordinary, she felt even more dissatisfied with her.
But she couldn't refute the Emperor's words, so she could only swallow her anger.
In fact, she didn't know that it was already considered good that the King of Chu was able to marry the daughter of a fourth-rank official. If it weren't for the rule that officials below the fourth rank couldn't attend the banquet, Emperor Wenjian would probably have bestowed upon her a fifth or sixth-rank official.
Xiao Churen was also very unwilling to accept Emperor Wenjian's bestowal of marriage, but he thought that he had already made a mistake today, and if he refused again, he would probably make the emperor even more unhappy.
Moreover, this is only an imperial marriage, and the daughter of the Imperial Academy Chancellor is not yet of marriageable age, so there is still time and opportunity to change things.
So he could only kneel down to express his gratitude.
Zheng Hongye could only kneel down with his daughter to express his gratitude, though he didn't want his daughter to marry Xiao Churen at all.
Because he thought his daughter was silly, cute, and honest, he always hoped to find someone who liked her and never thought of marrying her into the royal family.
He didn't want his whole family to get caught up in the succession struggle because of his daughter's family.
Therefore, although they appeared to be all smiles, they were actually suffering inside.
I wonder what Xiao Churen would think if he knew he was being disliked.
After this incident, Consort Liu was too angry to even mention sending beauties to Xiao Ye anymore. She felt that the fact that she hadn't fainted from anger was already her greatest effort.
Only Princess Changning sat below unwillingly, and several times she tried to speak, but Princess Ronglin stopped her.
Emperor Wenjian did not mention the matter of arranging a concubine for Xiao Ye again. Instead, Xiao Ye took the initiative to mention to Emperor Wenjian, "Father, I have prepared a gift for you today."
"Oh? What else have you prepared?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wenjian looked at him curiously.
Today, the painting "Ten Thousand Sons and Thousand Grandsons" that Xiao Ye gave him truly touched his heart.
I wonder what other good things Xiao Ye has to give me now.
"Father, I have always heard that the songs and dances of the Western Regions are unparalleled in the world. Most of the Western Region martial arts of the Great Liang are learned and imitated by our own people, and we have rarely seen authentic Western Region songs and dances."
Therefore, I went to great lengths to find several renowned and outstanding dancers in the Western Regions, and specially presented Father Emperor with a Western Regions "Longevity Dance" on the day of his birthday banquet!
"Is that so? Your Highness is very thoughtful!"
Emperor Wenjian sighed with delight.
In recent years, the Western Regions have closed themselves off from the outside world and have had little contact with it, so dancers from the Western Regions are rarely seen in their capital.
He had long heard that the songs and dances of the Western Regions were unparalleled in the world, and he was quite interested in experiencing them for himself.
Before long, six women dressed in strange and alluring red dresses entered the center of the hall.
They wore veils, but one could vaguely see their thick eyebrows and large, bright eyes, as clear as grapes. Their high noses held up the veils, revealing their perfect features.
The rhythmic and lively Western Region songs and dances began, and the beautiful Western Region women dancing in the main hall were so captivating that it was impossible to look away.
Emperor Wenjian was immediately captivated by the group of women from the Western Regions, especially the young woman who led the dance. She was slender, with long, flowing hair, and every smile and gesture exuded an indescribable charm.
Consort Liu, who was already angry, became even angrier when she saw Emperor Wenjian staring at the woman.
Consort Liu's gaze fell on the woman, and she wished she could tear her to pieces.
Everyone at the banquet was mesmerized by what they saw.
"Wonderful! Wonderful indeed! The songs and dances of the Western Regions are unparalleled in the world, it's no exaggeration!"
"This dance is so beautiful! The more I watch, the more I want to see it. All these women are stunningly beautiful, especially the one leading the dance, she's gorgeous!"
"His Highness the Crown Prince is truly amazing! He actually managed to find such a talented dancer from the Western Regions!"
As the lively music and dance came to an end, the people in the hall were full of praise.
The lead dancer finished a graceful movement, then, with delicate steps, knelt down before Emperor Wenjian.
"Lianyao wishes His Majesty a long and healthy life!"
The woman's voice was like the song of a nightingale.
Emperor Wenjian stared at the woman, mesmerized, and froze for a moment.
May he stay young forever?
He's in his forties or fifties, can he still be considered young?
But for some reason, he felt quite happy to hear this beautiful woman say that.
"Alright, take off your veil and let me see you?"
Emperor Wenjian laughed loudly, and then gave the order.
At this point, everyone understood that the emperor was interested in the woman before him.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Lianyao responded gently, and then slowly removed the veil from her face.
The moment the veil was lifted, a gasp of amazement rang out in the hall, and Emperor Wenjian was completely mesmerized.
Su Liluo stood there, stunned.
This... isn't this Consort Yao from my previous life?
How could she appear as a dancer from the Western Regions?
And it was given to Emperor Wenjian by her husband?
In her previous life, Consort Yao appeared suddenly when Consort Liu was the most favored concubine in the harem, the Empress had passed away, and Emperor Wenjian was about to make Consort Liu the Empress.
When Consort Yao appeared, Consort Liu almost lost favor. Later, she fought fiercely with Consort Yao in the harem.
Speaking of which, this Consort Yao was quite capable.
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