There is no morning court today. The emperor is discussing matters with a dozen important ministers in the Ganyang Palace, and Chu Guangche and his son ask for a meeting.
Ever since the emperor became the crown prince, Chu Guangche has never taken the initiative to ask for an audience with him. This time, the father and son came together, so it must be something important.
The emperor always felt that the late emperor and himself had been very sorry for Chu Guangche. Chu Guangche sacrificed his future and family for himself, his mother, his younger brother, and even his three children. He endured for more than ten years, but was abandoned and had to stay at home idle in his prime.
The emperor had two wishes since he was young, one was to ascend the throne, and the other was to repay Chu Guangche's kindness. But the late emperor told him that if the emperor wanted his subjects to die, they had to die, and everything Chu Guangche did was the duty of a subject.
The late emperor also warned the emperor that Chu Guangche was too capable and had too many dark forces, and the emperor relied too much on him. In order to make him remember his duties, he must be suppressed.
The late emperor was afraid that his son would disobey him after his death, so he even told Prince An and several important officials before his death that if Chu Guangche dared to break his promise of "no longer serving as an official", they must help the emperor kill him...
The emperor strongly disapproved of the late emperor's approach, not only because he remembered favors and sentiments, but also because he fully believed in Chu Guangche's character because he "did not employ anyone he doubted". However, because of the late emperor's will, the emperor did not dare to employ Chu Guangche, and forced Chu Guangkai to resign from all the positions he held.
Fortunately, the Chu family had no intention of disloyalty and made concessions. Their moves not only revitalized the Chu family, but also stopped the emperor from being embarrassed.
Although the emperor did not use Chu Guangche, he gave Chu Guangche a "Golden Book and Iron Certificate" to protect him and his descendants. Of course, he would also use and show favor to his descendants...
Chu Guangche and Chu Lingxuan came to the hall and kowtowed to the emperor.
The emperor smiled and said, "I haven't seen you, old Lord Chu, for a long time. Please stand up."
Chu Guangche and his son did not stand up. Chu Guangche kowtowed again and said, "Your Majesty, my eldest granddaughter Han Yan was persecuted when she was young and became insane. Although her insane illness has been cured, her unbearable experience can never be erased. I feel that for the sake of the royal family and the dignity of the prince, Han Yan really should not marry into such a noble family."
Chu Lingxuan kowtowed again and said, "I beg Your Majesty to revoke their marriage and allow them to marry separately in the future."
The emperor was stunned. Although the girl from the Chu family was not the most intelligent, she was gentle, kind, virtuous, and had a natural beauty. He and the queen mother liked her, and Xiao Shiyi liked her even more. The reason why the late emperor granted them marriage was to give the grace that he could not give to Chu Guangche to the girl from the Chu family.
What's more, Xiao Shiyi and the girl from the Chu family have been childhood sweethearts and have a deep relationship. The Chu family also likes Xiao Shiyi as their son-in-law very much.
What play are these father and son going to sing today?
He thought about it and understood a little. He occasionally heard the queen make a joke, saying that Xiao Shiyi has become a rich son-in-law that everyone likes. If they hadn't been engaged first, the Chu family would definitely not have been able to get this little son-in-law... He didn't think much about it before, but now he thinks that the queen said so intentionally. The reason why the Chu family wanted to cancel the engagement was probably because someone had mentioned the girl's previous illness, and said it in front of her, and it was very unbearable...
The emperor looked at Chu Guangche kneeling below. He was dressed in casual clothes and his hair was already half white at the age of forty. His mother was rescued from death row by this man, and he was supported by this man since he was a child. Now, he sat on the throne as he wished, and his mother became the queen mother, but he had nothing left. Even his granddaughter's marriage might be taken away by someone else...
The emperor was so angry that he pounded his clenched fist on the armrest of the dragon throne. He looked at the dozen important officials in the palace, calmed down, and asked, "Why do you say that, my dear minister? What's going on? Tell me clearly. If anyone spreads rumors and slanders Miss Chu, I will take care of her."
Chu Guangche was moved by the emperor's words. He choked up and said, "Your Majesty, someone told my granddaughter that many families are saying that my granddaughter has mental illness, is not smart, and her in-laws are in the party of the rebellious prince, so she is not worthy of Prince He. They also said that when Prince He grows up, he will not like my stupid granddaughter, but will find another smart girl... We are not arguing with the little girl, because these words are obviously not what the little girl can think of. She must have heard them from adults or others. Your Majesty, these words are like steel needles, piercing my heart. I am in pain. My granddaughter has suffered so much in the past and was almost killed by others. Now she is being talked about behind her back and humiliated in front of her... Woo, I am sorry for her. I didn't protect her. I am unworthy of being a grandfather."
Chu Lingxuan also choked up and said, "It's because I'm a useless father and can't protect my little girl..."
Chu Guangche wiped his tears with his sleeve and said, "Your Majesty is wise. The Chu family dare not marry someone too high up. I beg Your Majesty to take it back."
After saying this, the father and son kowtowed together.
The emperor was so smart. He knew that he had invited Rong Jing to a banquet at the palace yesterday, and Yang Wenyi also went with him. Moreover, Concubine Yang Shu had told him more than once how smart Xiao Shiyi was and how intelligent Yang Wenfang was. No wonder Chu Guangche and his son brought this matter to the palace. It turned out that his woman and Yue's family were thinking about Xiao Shiyi, and his sister-in-law even went to them to gossip and humiliate them.
The Chu family father and son still gave face to the emperor and did not dare to say that it was the Yang family girl who did it.
Concubine Yang Shu had only lived a few years of good life when she forgot all the kindness the Chu family had shown her and even took the lead in trying to snatch someone else's grandson-in-law.
The emperor was angry and ashamed, and said, "My two beloved ministers, I know that Miss Chu's illness has long been cured. She is kind and likable, gentle and honest, and smart. Not only is she favored by the late emperor, but I and the empress dowager also like her very much. As for the person who spreads rumors, I will let the empress dowager and the queen issue an imperial decree to teach her how to behave. If anyone dares to curse or attack the future Princess He in person or behind her back, it is disrespectful to the late emperor, me, and the empress dowager, and will definitely be severely punished. Because this marriage was favored by the late emperor and me, and Miss Chu was also praised by the empress dowager." He took a breath and said, "What's more, Miss Chu's former mental illness and the grievances that old Mr. Chu had suffered were all caused by me. My two beloved ministers, please get up quickly, and don't say those stupid and high-class words in the future. The Chu family is a good girl, and she and Xiao Eleven are a match made in heaven, the most suitable match. We are determined to be in-laws."
Chu Guangche and Chu Lingxuan thought that the emperor would punish the daughter of the Yang family, but they did not expect that he would speak so affectionately. They were all moved and kowtowed and cried, "Your Majesty, thank you for your grace."
Among the ministers in the palace, there were several women who were plotting against the prince, and they also said bad things about Chu Hanyan not being worthy of the prince. After hearing what the emperor said, they all wiped the sweat off their foreheads and secretly said that they would tell the women to shut up when they got home.
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