Consort Su looked at Xuan Yuanpeng in disbelief.
Even though she had long known that the Bai family was restless and that Xuan Yuanpeng coveted the Bai family, and there were even rumors circulating about it, she never expected that Xuan Yuanpeng would personally acknowledge Xuan Yuanzhan's identity!
"That's impossible! Xuanyuan Zhan is clearly the posthumous son of the late Crown Prince. How could he possibly be your son? Please don't be fooled by the Bai family!!"
Regardless of whether Xuan Yuanzhan is or isn't, he can't be!!!
Xuanyuan Peng knew exactly what Consort Su was thinking, and said coldly, "If I say he is who he is, then he is who he is. It's none of your business to interfere in my affairs!"
Seeing Xuan Yuanpeng reprimand her for the sake of Bai Shi and her son, Su Fei was so angry that her face turned green, and her long fingernails almost scratched her palms to pieces!
Seeing Su Fei's unconvinced expression, Xuan Yuanpeng's tone became even colder: "Also, don't think I don't know that the whole thing about Xuan Yuanzhan being cursed with bad luck for his wives was caused by you. If you hadn't stirred up these things, how could Xuan Yuanzhan's marriage have been delayed until now? Now you have only yourself to blame for all of this!"
Upon hearing Xuan Yuanpeng suddenly mention this matter, Consort Su panicked and looked up with a wronged expression, saying, "Your Majesty, how can you wrong me like this? How could I have spread those rumors? Even if I have some grudges with Bai Shi, I would never be so unladylike as to harm her son!"
Xuanyuan Peng scoffed disdainfully: "How did the daughter of Grand Tutor Fu fall into the water? How did the daughter of General Li fall off her horse? And even how did Zhao Zhenzhen's sister, Zhao Ruirui, encounter those bandits? Do you think I don't know anything? Let me tell you, I know everything you've done. I'm only turning a blind eye because your elder brother sacrificed himself for the country! It wasn't easy for your elder brother to achieve these merits with his life. Don't let his achievements be wasted, and don't let my last bit of patience be worn away!"
Don't think he doesn't know what she's thinking. She's just afraid that if Xuan Yuanzhan gets married into the Grand Tutor's Mansion, the General's Mansion, and the Prime Minister's Mansion, Xuan Yuanzhan will have support and will threaten Xuan Yuanyu in the future.
He knew exactly what she was thinking, but seeing that she hadn't hurt Xuan Yuanzhan, and that Xuan Yuanzhan himself didn't want to get married, he decided not to get involved.
Consort Su was shocked, never expecting that Xuan Yuanpeng knew everything.
For the sake of being the eldest brother?
Thinking of her elder brother, Su Fei unconsciously clenched her fists.
If her elder brother were still alive, he wouldn't have spoken to her like that today. Unfortunately, there's no going back...
Seeing Consort Su's pale face, Xuan Yuanpeng said coldly, "Su Huiyan, I always thought you were intelligent, more discreet than most noble ladies in the capital, which is why I entrusted you with managing the harem. But you seem to have forgotten your place. You are not my Empress. Even if you are ranked first among the consorts, you are still just my concubine. Please recognize your place and don't disappoint me again!"
Xuanyuan Peng's words were undeniably heavy, filling Su Fei with fear and reminding her that she had once been nothing more than a country girl. If her eldest brother hadn't become the Great General of Eastern Chu and Xuanyuan Peng's most trusted general, she and her second brother wouldn't have been able to come to the capital with him, and she would never have been able to enter the palace as a concubine. It could be said that her current status was entirely due to her eldest brother.
No matter how hard she tried, in Xuanyuan Peng's heart she would always be just a country bumpkin, never as good as Bai Shi. She wasn't Consort Su at all, but just a tool for him to cover up his ugly relationship with Bai Shi. No wonder he still wouldn't promote her rank. Let alone the Empress, he wouldn't even give her the title of Noble Consort. In his heart, she would always be just a concubine.
Consort Su felt extremely resentful, yet she was so powerless. After a long silence, she could only bow to Xuan Yuanpeng and say, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong and will never do it again."
Xuanyuan Peng did not allow Consort Su to get up, and Consort Su did not dare to move, so she remained in a curtsy position.
Xuanyuan Peng didn't look at Consort Su again. He switched to another pen, finished writing the imperial edicts, and then called out, "Zong Jiu."
"Your Majesty." Zong Jiu immediately entered the room.
Xuanyuan Peng handed him the four imperial edicts: "Go and deliver the edicts!"
"Yes." Zong Jiu glanced at the four imperial edicts, then put them away, bowed, and left.
Xuanyuan Peng then raised his eyes and glanced at Su Fei: "You go out too."
"Your Majesty, I take my leave." After squatting for a long time, Consort Su was somewhat exhausted, but she still bowed respectfully and withdrew.
As Consort Su retreated to the doorway, Zong Jiu opened an imperial edict and read it aloud to the kneeling Xuan Yuan Yu: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Third Prince Xuan Yuan Yu has now reached adulthood and is of marriageable age. A virtuous woman should be chosen as his consort. It is now known that Zhao Zhenzhen, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family, is a lady of noble birth, dignified and elegant, gentle and graceful, and is suitable to be the Third Prince's consort. Therefore, this decree is hereby issued to grant them marriage. All the ceremonies shall be jointly handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Director of the Imperial Observatory. The wedding will take place in three days."
Upon hearing the imperial edict, Xuanyuan Yu went completely mad: "No! I'm marrying Su Xuening, not Zhao Zhenzhen! Father, this imperial edict must be a mistake!"
As he spoke, Xuanyuan Yu shouted into the imperial study, "Father, I do not want to marry Zhao Zhenzhen. I want to marry Su Xuening. I will marry no one but Su Xuening in this life. I beg you, Father, grant my wish! I beg you, Father, grant my wish!"
Seeing Xuan Yuan Yu defy the imperial decree on the spot, Zong Jiu looked troubled: "This is the imperial decree issued by His Majesty. It was written by His Majesty himself and there is no mistake. Please accept the decree, Your Highness, and do not make things difficult for this old servant."
Xuanyuan Yu refused to accept the imperial decree and continued shouting towards the imperial study, "I beg my father to grant my wish! I will marry no one but Su Xuening in this life!"
In the imperial study, Xuan Yuanpeng's head was about to explode from Xuan Yuanyu's shouting.
He had initially placed some hope in Xuan Yuan Yu, but seeing him so desperate for a woman, he was clearly incapable of shouldering any great responsibility.
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