Chapter 120: Granted Marriage
He curled up the corners of his lips coldly, "It is said that my son loves Miss Shen deeply. Now it seems to be true. He is so dedicated to protecting the Shen family."
"Father." Xiao Yuan frowned, having a bad feeling in his heart.
But before he could say anything, the emperor took the lead and said, "Since my son likes that girl, I will grant your wish."
His eyes swept over Shen Wen, whose expression had changed, with mockery in his eyes.
"Since the Shen family has raised a good daughter, I will give you a lighter sentence. Mr. Shen will be demoted three levels and sent to the Ministry of War. Mr. Shen's son will be dismissed from his post and stripped of his official status from today."
He stared at Xiao Yuan coldly with a hidden gaze, and continued, "Miss Shen, give her to my son as the prince's concubine."
"Father." Xiao Yuan raised his head suddenly, his dark eyes shrouded in gloom, "I have no intention of getting married recently, please..."
"Why, you don't like Miss Shen?" The emperor narrowed his eyes. "If you don't like her, there are so many talented young men in the court, and it won't be your turn!!"
Xiao Yuan's heart sank, and he clenched his palms tightly without saying a word for a long time.
"Your Majesty." Shen Wen gritted his teeth and said, "My daughter is still young. I have no plans to marry her off. My mother just passed away. My daughter was raised by her alone. She should observe mourning for three years."
"It's not a big deal." The emperor waved his hand, "I have issued an order to seize the love, and marriages based on filial piety are everywhere."
Shen Wen wanted to speak, but the emperor's eyes turned cold and he said in a deep voice, "Why? Shen Qing refused in every possible way. Could it be that you despise the low status of the prince's concubine?"
The title of the prince's concubine sounds nice, but in reality she is just a concubine. It's just that because the man she marries is a prince, she has the opportunity to be included in the royal imperial genealogy.
Shen Wen was naturally unwilling. Not to mention being a concubine, even if she was the principal wife, he didn't want his daughter to have any connection with the royal family.
Shen Changhe also stood up, “Your Majesty, my sister grew up in Jiangnan. She has a paranoid personality and lacks rules. I’m afraid she is not suitable to marry into the royal family.”
“If you don’t know the rules, you can be taught. There are many maids in my palace who can teach you until Miss Shen knows how to do it!” The emperor’s tone was obviously cold.
Asking the maids in the palace to teach the rules is not teaching, but torture. Shen Changhe gritted his teeth and dared not speak for a while, for fear that the emperor would get angry and say something bad to An An.
After all, the emperor's meaning was very clear.
Shen Wen did not want to give up, and continued to speak boldly, "Your Majesty, I have no intention of attending court now, I just hope to return to my hometown with my wife and children, please allow me..."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a loud bang on the dragon table, and all the civil and military officials fell to their knees in fear.
The emperor's cold voice sounded, "Mr. Shen, I have repeatedly shown mercy to your Shen family, so don't be ungrateful!"
He did not dismiss him from his official position and allowed him to continue to stay in the court. He should be grateful. In today's Shen family, being a prince's concubine is a honor to the Shen family!
The emperor leaned forward slightly and looked at Shen Wen, his sharp eyes narrowed, "Shen Qing refused in every possible way, is it because he despises my son, or is it because he has resentment and dissatisfaction with me in his heart?"
These words were extremely serious. If Shen Wen's answer had any problem at all, he would be in disaster today.
He raised his head slightly and met the emperor's cold eyes, which were full of warnings and threats.
He understood instantly that although the imperial concubine could no longer speak, it did not mean that the secret would never be revealed. The emperor would never let the Shen family leave his sight.
"The emperor's grace is immense. The fourth prince is a rare talent. I dare not, but..."
"Then shut up." The emperor's face was very cold, "You should be thankful that my son likes your daughter. If you refuse again, all the men of the three clans of the Shen family will be exiled, and Miss Shen will not be able to leave the capital."
His wrist was resting on the dragon throne, and he exuded a strong aura.
He wanted to tell Shen Wen and all the officials that he was the emperor, in charge of the country of Daliang. Under the emperor's feet, everyone was dust, let alone a woman! !
Shen Wen clenched his hands on his legs into fists and tried very hard to suppress his emotions.
"Your Majesty." Shen Changhe was unwilling to speak, but was interrupted by Shen Wen, who took over the conversation and accepted the decree to express his gratitude.
At today's morning court, we lost both the wife and the army. Not only was we unable to leave the capital, but even An An was killed.
But Shen Wen couldn't help but consider the Shen family's side branches. We cannot be selfish and let those people suffer unnecessary disasters for the sake of our daughter.
Shen Changhe's eyes were bloodshot, filled with rage and coldness.
Shen Wen and Shen Changhe had no room to speak, but Xiao Yuan would not compromise so easily. He stared at the emperor coldly.
"Why, my son is not satisfied with this marriage?" The emperor raised his eyebrows.
If he dared to express his dissatisfaction, he would immediately point Shen Anan to the young masters of other families.
"You and Miss Shen's affair has caused a lot of controversy. If you don't marry her, how will Miss Shen survive in the capital? But I won't force you. There are many talented young men in the court."
"You have ruined the reputation of a young lady. This responsibility will always be borne by my royal family."
There was a cold, threatening, warning look in his eyes.
Xiao Yuan pursed his thin lips into a straight line, his jaw tense.
He knew that it was impossible to cancel this marriage today, otherwise the Shen family alone would not be able to get away with it unscathed. That woman loved her family so much that she would definitely accept the title of concubine.
I might blame him later!
That’s the exile of three tribes!
Thinking of this, Xiao Yuan closed his eyes slightly, lowered his eyelids, and cupped his hands, "Replying to Your Majesty, I... like Miss Shen and am satisfied with this marriage."
"That's good." The emperor smiled, "Then let the Ministry of Rites pick an auspicious day and carry it to your Fourth Prince's palace."
Ceremonies would also be held for the prince's concubines. The emperor's words were as casual as taking a concubine or appointing a maid, so frivolous that it made people feel humiliated.
Shen Changhe's chest heaved violently. He looked at Shen Wen who was kneeling in front of him. Dad didn't say anything.
Thinking of the three tribes that would be implicated and exiled, he tried his best to hold back, his hands in his sleeves trembling violently.
"Minister of Rites, is there a good date recently?" The emperor seemed very anxious about this marriage.
The Minister of Rites stood up and bowed, "Your Majesty, the 23rd of this month is an auspicious day for marriage."
The 23rd was the wedding day that the Shen family had previously agreed upon with the Lin family.
"Okay, then it's the twenty-three." The emperor made the final decision.
"Father," Xiao Yuan said with a sullen face, "This is my first marriage, and ten days is too short to prepare. It would not be too late to discuss it after the New Year."
"Oh, it's nothing serious." The emperor waved his hand nonchalantly, "It's just marrying a concubine. I will send someone from the palace to help you. It's urgent."
Xiao Yuan looked up at the emperor, almost suppressing his anger, and said calmly, "My second brother has married one woman after another, and they were all so grand and magnificent. This is my first marriage, so naturally I can't be shabby, otherwise it would be an insult to my royal dignity."
Xiao Ze, who was inexplicably named, was stunned for a moment, and then received the emperor's unfriendly gaze. He glared at Xiao Yuan fiercely and lowered his head.
Just say what you want to say, why are you bringing me up? Everyone in the court knows that he has many concubines and beautiful girls in his backyard. If it wasn't for Shengda, how could he take the opportunity to get close to those ministers!
"Then what do you want?" The emperor looked at Xiao Yuan unhappily. After all, he was marrying a concubine, and no matter how grand the ceremony was, he couldn't break the rules.
His eyes flickered, and he suddenly said, "I heard that your mentor's granddaughter, the Third Miss of the Duan family, has feelings for you. Old Master Duan just passed away, and you should also take care of his descendants. The Duan family is well-off, and the Third Miss Duan is well-educated and talented. It's perfect for her to be your principal wife."
Xiao Yuan suddenly raised his head, his face frighteningly cold, but the emperor directly instructed the eunuch, "Draft an imperial decree. Miss Duan San is very beautiful and talented, so she will be married to the Fourth Prince as his principal wife. Miss Shen is loved by the Fourth Prince, so she will be made his concubine. They will be married ten days later."
"Father." Xiao Yuan spoke coldly to stop him. The eunuch who was announcing the decree glanced at the emperor, and seeing that the emperor did not move, he did not dare to stay and hurriedly went to draft the decree.
"Your marriage has been delayed for long enough. Now that it's done, I'm relieved. As for the wedding ceremony, as long as it doesn't violate the ancestral rules, you can do whatever you want."
After all, he was marrying a legitimate princess.
Not to mention other people, even Xiao Yuan was confused at the moment. He never expected that the emperor would suddenly arrange Duan Mengmeng's marriage to him.
"Old Fourth, Grandpa Duan taught you a lot. Now that he is gone, there are only women and children left in the Duan family. There is no one who can support the family. If you are willing, you should treat his granddaughter well."
The emperor said earnestly.
Although the old man of the Duan family is no longer with us, the prestige of his disciples is still there, and marrying Duan Mengmeng will be helpful to Xiao Yuan.
Today, the Shen family is of no use to Xiao Yuan except as a burden, and she only occupies the title of concubine.
If it is said that the emperor does not like Xiao Yuan, then the marriage with Duan Mengmeng is considered for him. If it is said that he likes him, it is really far-fetched.
This act of giving a slap in the face and then a sweet date made all the civil and military officials confused.
Xiao Ze looked at the emperor who had ascended the throne and the angry Xiao Yuan with a confused look on his face.
I don't understand what the emperor's intention is in arranging this marriage today?
"There are thousands of ways to treat someone kindly, not just this one. I have no interest in Miss Duan."
Just now, regarding the Shen family's marriage, he only said that he would discuss it later, but the Duan family refused very straightforwardly.
The other ministers all shrank their necks, fearing that the confrontation between the father and son would implicate them.
"The imperial decree has been issued. Your children's personal affairs are not allowed." The emperor's attitude was very decisive.
Perhaps to others, today's arranged marriage may seem a bit frivolous, but it is the result of his careful consideration.
He directly ordered the eunuchs to adjourn the court and left the Fengtian Hall in anger.
Xiao Yuan's face was extremely gloomy, and he turned around to follow him to the imperial study.
"Xiao Yuan." Li Huaiyan grabbed him.
In fact, he felt that this was an excellent result. Marrying both women would not only help his great cause, but he would also marry the person he loved. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?
Anyway, it is impossible for the prince to marry only one, and he had said before that he didn't care about the choice of the fourth prince's wife.
He paused, but did not look at Li Huaiyan, but looked at the father and son of the Shen family.
"Fourth Prince." Shen Changhe lowered his head, his voice hoarse.
Xiao Yuan pursed his lips tightly, "Go back and tell her to wait for my news."
He didn't say anything else. After saying this, he broke away from Li Huaiyan and quickly left the hall.
Li Huaiyan and Ling Chenyi looked at each other and immediately followed him out.
Shen Changhe stepped forward and helped up Shen Wen, who had been kneeling all morning and whose legs were weak, and walked out together.
The ice on the ground had almost melted by now, and the palace servants were cleaning up the water stains on the ground. The father and son were both silent, with gloomy and ugly faces.
"It seems that it is impossible for us to leave the capital."
"Dad, are we really going to send my sister to the Fourth Prince's residence to be a concubine?" Shen Changhe's eyes were sore and red.
If she was the principal wife and his sister was willing, he would not say anything, but the emperor was obviously humiliating her today. How could An An gain a foothold in the Fourth Prince's Mansion! !
Shen Wen got on the carriage in silence. After a long while, he said in a low voice, "There are 23 men from the three branches of the Shen family. You and I, father and son, are not afraid of life and death, but those kids can't stand the cold in the north."
This is the Shen family's disaster, how can he implicate them?
Shen Wen closed his eyes tightly, a feeling of powerlessness spreading in his heart.
"Dad." Shen Changhe suddenly spoke in a low voice, "You have been the Grand Marshal for so many years. Even if you have been stripped of your official position, you still have some prestige among the generals."
Shen Wen frowned, opened his eyes and looked at Shen Changhe.
This time he did not get angry or yell like he did in the past, but fell into deep thought.
The chief eunuch knew that there was a rift between the father and son again today, so he closed the door as soon as he returned to the imperial study. He thought that the Fourth Prince would see and understand that the Emperor was in a bad mood and should not be disturbed.
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