Chapter 423: Disobeying the Imperial Order and Refusing Marriage
Ying Zhilin didn't think twice, just lifted up his robe and knelt down.
He kowtowed heavily: "Your Majesty, please revoke your order."
The emperor was stunned. He didn't expect him to refuse without hesitation. "What do you mean?"
Ying Zhilin said, "I sincerely wish to serve the court. Please revoke your order, Your Majesty."
“Ying Zhilin, do you know that the Fifth Princess is my most beloved daughter?
"Marry her and you'll be a member of the royal family. I'll definitely use you in important positions, and your career will be smooth sailing." The emperor tempted.
Ying Zhi Lin Jun blushed. It was the first time he saw the emperor speak so openly about nepotism.
He kowtowed to the emperor again and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that the importance of an official position lies not in the size of the position, but in being able to work for the welfare of the people and share the worries of Your Majesty.
If I am not capable enough, even if you promote me to a high position, I will be unworthy of the position, and I may even do things that harm the people and the court because of my mediocrity.
On the contrary, as long as I have the ability, I will eventually reach the top with my own strength."
Ying Zhilin spoke passionately.
The emperor was stunned when he heard this.
This boy is quite eloquent.
The emperor suddenly felt a little regretful for arranging him into the Hanlin Academy. He should have placed him in the Censorate and let him argue with those old men in the court every day. It must have been very interesting.
The emperor was secretly delighted, but his face darkened: "Ying Zhilin, are you trying to disobey my order?"
The others were so frightened that they quickly lifted their robes and knelt down, shouting for the emperor to calm down.
"Your Majesty, you have wronged me so much." Ying Zhilin said innocently, "Your Majesty only asked if I would accept the marriage proposal, and did not issue an edict. Therefore, I cannot be said to be disobeying the edict. It can only be considered a disagreement between the emperor and his subjects."
"What a disagreement! Aren't you afraid that I will punish you?"
Ying Zhilin kowtowed heavily: "I have made up my mind. I am willing to sacrifice my entire life to ask the emperor to revoke his order."
There were gasps at the scene.
They all thought Ying Zhilin was crazy.
I can't even catch such a big pie if it falls on me.
It's really frustrating.
They wished they could take his place.
"You are crazy! Ying Zhilin, do you know what you are saying?" Ji Xiangyun, who was hiding in the dark and eavesdropping, finally couldn't help it and rushed out.
She ran to Ying Zhilin and asked loudly.
"Little Prince, why are you here? The Qionglin Banquet is not a place for you to come!" Although the emperor was scolding, his voice was very gentle and did not sound angry or blaming at all.
"No, father, you promised me that you would arrange a marriage for us. You are the emperor, are you going to go back on your word?" Ji Xiangyun pouted and pulled the emperor's hand, shaking it and acting coquettishly.
The emperor then said to Ying Zhilin, "Look, my daughter likes you so much. After you get married, you will definitely become a perfect couple."
"I am grateful for your kindness, Princess, but I am unwilling. I would rather die than surrender." Ying Zhilin expressed his attitude.
The emperor, who had been so pleasant just now, suddenly turned gloomy: "How dare you! Ying Zhilin, how dare you despise my daughter!
I can personally appoint you as the top scholar, but I can also remove you with just one word!"
Ying Zhilin knelt on the ground and said nothing.
He used silence to confront the emperor.
Ji Xiangyun half-knelt in front of Ying Zhilin and whispered, "Ying Zhilin, I advise you not to be so ungrateful. Following me can save you thirty years of hard work.
If you make me angry, I can make it difficult for you to get a foothold in the officialdom, and you may even end up in jail."
Yingzhi Lin remained unmoved.
Anger was already flashing in Ji Xiangyun's eyes. She, Ji Xiangyun, had never failed to get anyone she wanted. "You don't care about your own life or death, so don't you care about the safety of your family?"
Ying Zhilin suddenly raised his head, looked at the emperor's cloud boots, and said loudly: "Fifth Princess, it is I who do not want to marry you. Everything is my fault. Why are you taking your anger out on my family?
They are innocent.
I beg Your Highness to punish only me and not my family." Ying Zhilin kowtowed three times to Ji Xiangyun, his panic and fear evident.
"You...what nonsense are you talking about!" Ji Xiangyun flatly denied it and turned the tables, "I was just asking for your opinion, how could I threaten you with your family?
To get yourself out of this situation, you're using a woman's reputation as a stepping stone. Are you still a man?
You must never admit to threatening or forcing others for the sake of a man.
If this got to the ears of those noble ladies from the clan, they would laugh at her to death.
And those ignorant people will also criticize her.
Although she is domineering, she knows what it means that public opinion can melt gold and that the people's will is in her favor.
Ying Zhilin did not argue with her, but simply said, "As long as Her Royal Highness does not touch my family, everything just now was just nonsense. I was the only one who offended the princess."
"You..." Seeing that he was unmoved, Ji Xiangyun was so angry that his face turned red and blue, then blue to white, and then white to purple. It was a very interesting scene.
very good!
As expected, he was the man she liked, daring to challenge her in public.
Wait until they get married.
She will definitely let him know the consequences of disobeying her!
No one present was breathing heavily.
All screaming in their hearts.
Oh my God!
What just happened?
The fifth princess actually threatened Ying Zhilin in public, saying that she would attack his family if he didn't agree to the marriage?
He was so mean and domineering before marriage. After marriage, wouldn't she be able to bully him and domineeringly treat him like a tyrant?
The people who were jealous just now no longer envied Ying Zhilin.
Although this blessing is great, most people really cannot receive it.
However, what surprised them even more was that Ying Zhilin was so inflexible.
Most people will agree to it even if they don't want to.
She's just a woman anyway, so just marry her and train her slowly.
Ying Zhilin was stupid and stubborn.
The emperor just admitted in person that the fifth princess was his most beloved daughter.
Ying Zhilin had a falling out with her.
They could almost foresee what the outcome of Ying Zhilin's future career would be.
The emperor looked at Ying Zhilin who was kneeling on the ground.
Holding Ji Xiangyun's hand, he stared at Ying Zhilin with wide eyes: "Tell me why you don't agree to this marriage."
Ying Zhilin pursed his lips.
He originally didn't want to involve Wen Yan.
But he had just offended the Fifth Princess badly, and the Fifth Princess would definitely get to the bottom of it. Wen Yan would sooner or later fall into his sights.
It’s better to put it out in the open.
He immediately replied, "I already have a wife. My wife married me when I was still a humble man. She did not mind my poverty and earned money to support my younger siblings and pay for my studies.
How could I abandon my wife and marry someone else after high school?
Then what is the difference between me and Chen Shimei?
Your Majesty, I can divorce my wife and marry Young Master Shang for the sake of power today, but when I rise to prominence and gain power, I may neglect the princess and marry someone else for other reasons."
The emperor sighed and looked at Ji Xiangyun: "Xiao Wu, there are many good men in the world. There is no need to stare at this second-hand cabbage!"
Second-hand cabbage should know Lin: "..."
Ji Xiangyun: "..." But the more loyal he was, the more she liked him.
Such a loving man should be hers.
The emperor winked at Liu Dajian.
Liu Dajian then came forward and asked the Fifth Princess to leave.
"Your Highness, this is the Qionglin Banquet. If you have anything to say, let's talk after the banquet."
Ji Xiangyun pouted unhappily before following Liu Dajian away.
However, before leaving, he looked at Ying Zhilin again.
That look seemed to say: I have set my eyes on you!
Ying Zhilin lowered his head and looked away. From beginning to end, he never even glanced at the Fifth Princess.
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