Chapter 165 How Much?
In front of everyone, in order not to give Emperor Beiling the impression that Marquis Zhenbei had connections with the Gan Kingdom, she could not call her cousin like an ordinary relative. Even when facing Marquis Zhenbei, she could only politely call him "Marquis", even though they were related by blood.
Lu Linyi was smart and naturally understood the significance of Jiang Xue's "Miss Linyi", so she immediately responded: "Princess Changle, long time no see."
The last time they met was when Lu Linyi was seven or eight years old and was sent to Gan Country by her father. That was the scene when her aunt took her and Jiang Xue to meet for the first time.
Nine years passed in a blink of an eye, and when they met again, Lu Linyi felt much closer to this cousin.
"How is the princess doing in the capital?" Lu Linyi asked with concern. This was also the worry that his father always had in his mind. Since Jiang Xue was sent to the capital, his father often worried about her safety and couldn't sleep at night, fearing that she would suffer any injustice.
They wanted to find out the news from the capital, but the emperor was keeping a close watch on them and any attempt they made was unsuccessful!
"Thank you Miss Linyi for your concern. Changle is doing well in Beijing." Jiang Xue's three words "take care of herself" cleverly revealed her situation.
As a proton, although there are rules to protect you, there are always some people who like to abuse their privileges and break the rules to demonstrate their authority.
"I'm glad the princess is well." Lu Linyi heard the hidden meaning: "Father and I have always been concerned about the princess. If nothing unexpected happens, she will stay in the capital. If the princess feels bored, the Marquis' Mansion welcomes you at any time."
A lonely girl had to endure a whole year in this turbulent capital city. Her life was like walking on thin ice. Lu Linyi felt distressed just thinking about it. She patted the back of Jiang Xue's hand, silently encouraging her.
Although this simple comfort could not actually change anything, Jiang Xue did feel her heart warmed, and when she looked at Lu Linyi, there was more tenderness in her eyes.
"Marquis Zhenbei, how old is Linyi this year?" Emperor Beiling asked seemingly casually, but it made Jiang Xue and Marquis Zhenbei feel alarmed!
Judging from the situation, Emperor Beiling has set his sights on Lu Linyi.
"Your Majesty, Linyi is just fifteen this year." Lu Linyi bowed and replied. Not long ago, she completed the coming-of-age ceremony and officially became an adult.
"Fifteen years old..." Emperor Beiling smiled, his eyes moving between the Queen and the Imperial Concubine.
"It's a good time to get married. I wonder if Linyi has found a good partner?"
The Marquis of Zhenbei's heart skipped a beat. Was the emperor going to arrange a marriage for Linyi? Once it came true, no matter who Linyi was matched with, she would be bound to the capital, just like Changle, and become a "collateral" between the royal families in disguise!
"Your Majesty, Linyi currently... has no engagement."
The Marquis of Zhenbei responded cautiously, his mind rapidly thinking of a countermeasure.
"This won't do. Men should get married when they are old enough, and women should get married when they are old enough. Linyi is already fifteen and still hasn't been promised. It will be hard to find a partner if we wait any longer. We can't waste time on such an excellent girl. Your Majesty, what do you think?"
Lin Wan caught the Emperor Beiling's intention to use marriage to restrain the Marquis of Zhenbei, and quickly agreed, giving the Emperor Beiling a way out.
"Your Highness, what you said makes sense. I think Linyi is well-educated and elegant, and I like him very much. It just so happens that Mo Ran has also reached the age to get married. The two of them are really a perfect match."
Mo Ran is the pen name of the third prince Xiao Yan.
When Marquis Zhenbei heard that the emperor wanted to marry his daughter to the third prince, he was struck by lightning!
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince is extremely noble, and my daughter is ordinary and may not be able to match the Third Prince's nobility."
Lu Changfeng knelt down and lowered his head, choosing his words carefully.
Putting aside Xiao Yan’s character issues, just the status behind him and Concubine Lin are not easy to deal with.
Furthermore, once Lin Yi is involved in Xiao Yan’s factional struggles, he will be caught in the whirlpool of the palace and there will be no escape!
As a father, Lu Changfeng would never let his daughter jump into the fire pit. He would find a way to refuse this marriage no matter what!
However, how can the royal family’s decision be easily changed?
From the very beginning, Emperor Beiling had been planning to make Lu Linyi a member of the royal family in order to contain Marquis Zhenbei. How could he let go of such a good opportunity today!
"Lord Zhenbei, your words are too polite. I think Linyi is a gentle and quiet girl, and she is very suitable for my taste. Even if she has been in the border for a long time and is not familiar with the etiquette of the palace, she can come to me often and I will teach her myself. What do you think?"
Lin Wan has been favored in the palace for so long, so her methods must be superior.
The Marquis of Zhenbei's excuses were rejected by her with just a few casual words. Not only did she make it impossible to refuse the arranged marriage, but she also gave Lin Wan the opportunity to hold Lu Linyi tighter.
Personally train her? Hey, the Imperial Concubine has a plan that works perfectly.
Jiang Xue murmured in her heart that if she really did what she said, her cousin would be unable to escape marriage.
Xiao Yan is Lin Wan's son. How could he not know that Lu Linyi had entered the palace? When the mother and son come together, are they afraid that they can't plot against their cousin?
"..."Zhenbei Hou was speechless for a moment and remained silent.
I was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. I wanted to find an excuse to refuse, but I didn't know where to start.
Jiang Xue sighed. Her uncle was a military man after all. He was not even a little bit inferior to the calculating people in the palace who were so meticulous.
"My Lord, Changle learned of Madam's tragic news a while ago and was extremely sad. But he was not allowed to leave the capital without permission. Otherwise, he would have come to pay his respects in person."
Jiang Xue opened her red lips slightly, looked apologetic, and saluted to the Marquis of Zhenbei.
Xiao Zhan understood what he meant when he heard this, and stood up to salute Emperor Beiling: "Father, I also heard that the wife of the Zhenbei Marquis passed away due to illness not long ago, and the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion is in mourning."
The mourning period usually lasts for three years, and it is common sense that marriage is not allowed during this period.
The Emperor of Beiling attached great importance to filial piety, and mourning was of vital importance to him.
Therefore, as soon as the word "mourning" came out, the words of Emperor Beiling were completely blocked.
Emperor Beiling was stunned when he heard this, and the smile on his face obviously faded a lot.
As a result, the plan to use Lu Linyi to contain Marquis Zhenbei was ruined!
There was a flash of regret in Lin Wan and Xiao Yan's eyes. The opportunity to win over Marquis Zhenbei and please the Emperor at the same time was gone just like that!
The queen seemed calm and composed, with a hint of a smile on her lips.
Lin Wan, Lin Wan, you want to win over the Marquis of Zhenbei to help your son gain power, but don’t you see your own capabilities?
Jiang Xue looked at the different expressions of the people in the hall and found it quite funny.
The emperor of Beiling obtained the throne in an illegitimate way, so he specially promoted his queen to the throne of empress dowager and behaved himself as an extremely filial son, so that he could secure his position as the legitimate heir.
As a result, a culture of putting filial piety first has been formed in Beiling.
Jiang Xue saw the direction of the trend and deliberately brought up the story of the death of the wife of the Marquis of Zhenbei.
In this way, the Marquis of Zhenbei had a reasonable shield, and even the emperor would be embarrassed and unable to say a word!
"It is my daughter's blessing that the emperor thinks highly of me. But I am still in mourning, so as for marriage..." Marquis Zhenbei continued, looking at the emperor with a hesitant expression.
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