"Yes, I already know. I will handle it myself." Shi Mingji said firmly.
Fu Yueli sneered: "You handle it yourself? How do you handle it yourself?"
Shi Mingji didn't understand why his attitude suddenly turned cold, and replied: "This is my own business. I appreciate your help before, but now I can solve it myself and there is no need to report to you."
"You can't deal with that person at all, so don't try to be brave." Fu Yueli warned.
Shi Mingji said, "I know what I'm doing. Thank you." He still rejected Fu Yueli and turned away.
Fu Yueli was quite helpless, but seeing that Shi Mingji seemed to have a solution, he stopped caring about it. After finishing his business at the Hanlin Academy, he immediately returned to the Ministry of Rites.
Autumn had already arrived, and the small kumquats that Shi Mingyue had planted in the yard were bearing fruit. She went to pick a full basket and waited in the room for Fu Yueli to return.
When Fu Yueli came back in the evening, the two of them ate kumquats together. The sour and sweet taste was very delicious.
"The things you grow yourself are really delicious." Shi Mingyue said with a smile.
Fu Yueli recalled the scene of her working hard in the fields and smiled: "Yes, you have made the greatest contribution."
The two of them were in love all night, but a piece of news the next day made the house uneasy.
After the morning court session ended, the emperor issued an edict to marry Xie Rutao, the concubine of the left prime minister Xie Qichang, as Fu Yueli's concubine.
Although Xie Rutao was Xie Qichang's concubine's daughter, not the daughter of his wife, Mrs. Mo, the Xie family held a high standard and placed little emphasis on legitimate and illegitimate children. Consequently, Xie Qichang and his wife, Mrs. Mo, meticulously educated Xie Rutao. Xie Rutao was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and she was also beautiful, attracting numerous proposals from nobles and noblemen.
When Fu Yueli heard the news, she immediately declined. However, the emperor refused to listen and hurriedly dismissed the morning court. When Fu Yueli went to see the emperor again, the emperor said he was not feeling well and refused to see her.
He waited for a long time in front of the emperor's bedroom, but the emperor refused to see him, so he had to leave the palace and return home.
Who would have thought that the news had already reached the palace? Shi Mingyue felt deeply disgusted after learning about this. If the emperor had not said that to her, she would have thought that it was natural for him to take a concubine for Fu Yueli, but now she had to doubt his true intentions.
When Fu Yueli saw Hongyin's expression, he knew the news had spread to the mansion, and Shi Mingyue also knew about it. Fearing that she would start to overthink things, he walked into the house, hurriedly held her hand, and assured her, "I will not marry Xie Rutao!"
Just because he didn't want to marry didn't mean he wouldn't. Besides, the emperor had a plan. Otherwise, how could the news have reached the palace and her ears so quickly? It was probably already known to the whole city by now. If Fu Yueli firmly refused to marry, Xie Rutao's reputation would also be affected. If she showed any reluctance, people would immediately spread rumors that she was a jealous woman. She wasn't afraid of what others said; she just wasn't sure how firm Fu Yueli's determination was.
Seeing that Shi Mingyue didn't speak for a long time, Fu Yueli became anxious: "Believe me, I will never marry Xie Rutao!"
Hongyin had left long ago, and now there were only the two of them here. Shi Mingyue smiled, but her smile was bitter: "What if you became the emperor? I can't be the only one in the harem."
Fu Yueli's eyes widened. "Why not?!" He couldn't believe it. What shocked him the most was that Mingyue was actually worried about this. "There have been cases in ancient times where emperors had only one concubine in their harem!"
"Really?" Shi Mingyue smiled at him. "If you mean Yang Jian and Empress Dugu, don't forget how many more people Yang Jian had in his harem after Empress Dugu's death."
Fu Yueli calmed down. He had indeed wanted to talk about Yang Jian and Empress Dugu, but just as Mingyue had said, Yang Jian had become a womanizer in his later years. He thought about it, but couldn't think of a single one. Even the emperor, no matter how highly praised for his aversion to women, had more than one concubine in his harem. He stroked Master Mingyue's face and said softly but firmly, "Look into my eyes."
Shi Mingyue looked into his eyes. She just wanted to test his attitude. If he was firm enough, then no matter what the situation was, she would be as firm as him.
"If there wasn't one before, there will be one after me." Fu Yueli said each word with great force, "I won't be the only emperor with only one concubine in his harem. I want everyone in the world to practice monogamy, no concubines, and no hierarchy between legitimate and illegitimate children. Believe me, I will definitely do it."
His eyes were incredibly determined, and Shi Mingyue was completely stunned when she heard his words. She hadn't expected Fu Yueli to have such an idea. Everyone in the world should practice monogamy, with no concubines, and no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. He was breaking a tradition that had been passed down for thousands of years, which was considered sheer treason in the eyes of others, demonstrating how difficult this path would be.
"I believe you." After a long moment, the dark clouds on Shi Mingyue's face dissipated, revealing a bright and resolute smile. She would fully support him and help him in any way she could.
Fu Yueli placed a light kiss on her lips and said, "Come with me to the palace."
Shi Mingyue already knew what he was going to do, and she nodded: "Okay."
The two men entered the palace hand in hand. When the palace servants saw them coming at the same time, they all talked about it. Since the emperor had already issued the order and the news had spread throughout the city, how could he take it back?
They asked to see the emperor in his bedroom. This time, the emperor no longer claimed to be unwell and let them in.
The moment he saw Shi Mingyue, a hint of mockery flashed in the emperor's eyes.
"Li'er, it's not difficult for you to marry the daughter of Xie family. Besides, the daughter of Xie family is smart and beautiful, how can she not be worthy of you?" Although the emperor spoke in a gentle voice, every word contained implicit blame, blaming Fu Yueli for being ignorant.
Fu Yueli shook her head: "Miss Xie is not unworthy of me, it's just that I only like Mingyue, and I promised her that I would only marry her in this life and not anyone else."
"You still have the mind of a child," the emperor sighed and looked at Shi Mingyue. "Mingyue, you are the principal wife of the royal palace after all, and your tolerance is so small? You can't even tolerate concubines?"
Shi Mingyue looked at him calmly and answered without arrogance or servility, "Yes, my heart is very small. I only wish to be with you for the rest of my life. I'm sorry to have made you laugh."
The emperor was a little surprised, but he smiled and said, "Li'er, a real man shouldn't be so petty. Everyone has had three wives and four concubines since ancient times. Besides, you are a prince, and you will have children for the royal family in the future. Let's take a step back and say that if you became emperor, wouldn't you also take concubines?"
"No." Fu Yueli didn't want to explain more. "In short, please ask your father to take back your order. I will not marry Miss Xie no matter what."
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