Chapter 131
Bang!
Inside Shunning Palace.
Concubine Guo accidentally broke a teacup.
She only felt that the sky was dark and the earth was dark before her eyes, and Beijiang asked for the emperor's daughter to marry.
However, among the princesses of this generation, only Zhiyi was old enough to marry.
Concubine Xuan: "Don't panic at this time. You are Zhiyi's mother, so you must stay calm. Nothing is set in stone until His Majesty gives a clear order."
Concubine Guo grabbed her wrist tightly and said, "Yes. I will go and ask His Majesty. Zhiyi is His Majesty's daughter. If I beg him more, he will soften his heart."
Concubine Xuan could only comfort her, but she felt heavy in her heart.
The news of Beijiang's marriage proposal came yesterday evening, but the news only spread today.
The matter will certainly be discussed at the morning court in Ganji Palace, but she doesn't think the result of the discussion will be beneficial to Zhiyi.
-
Ganji Palace.
The atmosphere was intense.
"The Great Zhou cannot afford a large-scale war now, and the Northern Frontier is willing to seek peace. In order to preserve the country's strength, the princess' marriage is the best option."
"Your Majesty, I have prepared your report. King Kuru is a war advocate. He attacked the royal court as soon as Princess Xiang died. His wolfish ambition is obvious. His request for marriage to the Great Zhou is just a conciliatory measure to stabilize the internal situation of the Northern Frontier after he plundered the border cities!"
"Are we going to start a war? The disaster in the three counties has not been resolved, and His Majesty has issued a decree to exempt the three counties from taxation for three years to allow them to recuperate. The national treasury is empty of disaster relief. Once a war breaks out, the northern border will be plunged into war, and Nanning will also be eyeing it covetously."
"When both sides are overwhelmed, you will go to resist the foreign enemies?!"
"Does our dynasty raise these generals just to eat dry food?"
"Our dynasty is not afraid of war, but the lives of soldiers are also lives. If we can seek peace at the lowest cost, why not? Princess Xiang's marriage will bring twenty years of peace to the Great Zhou!"
"The military power in the Northern Frontier is divided. Now Changping Hou Xia Hong is no longer able to lead the army. The morale of the army has been affected. With internal and external troubles, now is not a good time to start a war..."
The civil and military officials in the court were arguing fiercely below, while Emperor Chongzhao sat at the top and said nothing.
The ministers below had argued enough and then looked to the only person who could make the decision.
"Your Majesty, please make the decision!"
"Your Majesty, please make the decision!"
Emperor Chongzhao pinched his brows.
He looked at the princes standing in front of him.
"What do you think?"
The fourth and fifth princes said at the same time: "I think the marriage is inappropriate."
Although the Sixth Prince did not want to go to war, he knew that Xiaoqi and Zhiyi were close. If Zhiyi went to marry, Xiaoqi would probably be sad.
He usually helps his relatives instead of others, so he said, "Of course I don't want to."
Emperor Chongzhao: "You two?"
The eldest prince: "It all depends on the emperor's judgment."
The second prince cupped his hands and said, "It all depends on the emperor's judgment."
Apart from the ministers, no prince would be stupid enough to show up at this critical juncture and directly say that they are willing to marry Princess Zhiyi, unless someone wants to completely break up with the Seventh Prince.
Emperor Chongzhao was silent for a moment and said, "Let me think about the matter of Zhiyi's marriage. First, transfer Xia Fuyang from Xianghe County to the capital."
After the court session.
Master Fang was walking on the road, and as he walked, he couldn't help but sigh.
Your Majesty transferred the son of Marquis Changping to the capital instead of directly to the northern border to help Marquis Chijian stabilize the power-sharing situation, which shows that he has already made his choice in his heart.
The reason why the order has not been issued yet is simply because there are still concerns.
-
After the Fifth Prince left the court, he immediately rushed to the Prince's residence.
Standing outside Pingguiyuan, he shouted with a hint of anxiety in his eyes, "Xiaoqi!"
A little white barked, and Yi Twelve came out from inside, stood at the door and said, "Your Highness is not here."
The fifth prince thought to himself, "But did he go to the Purple Palace?"
B12: “Yeah.”
The Fifth Prince: "How long have you been walking?"
B12: "It's been a while."
That means leaving at the right time for the next court session.
The fifth prince turned around and left, but was stopped by the fourth prince on the way to the Zichen Palace.
"Fourth brother?"
The Fourth Prince: "It's no use begging."
The Fifth Prince: "I am not going to ask my father for help."
The Fourth Prince: "What about you?"
"I just wanted to stop Xiao Qi. He has never experienced the cold side of our father. If he goes to argue with our father, who do you think will get hurt, fourth brother?" The fifth prince smiled bitterly, "I can't make it in time. Maybe I should go directly to the outside of the Purple Palace after the court session."
-
Early winter.
The weather is cloudy and windy.
Purple Palace.
Qu Dubian stood outside the hall and waited for a long time.
It was almost dark, and this was the first time he was stopped by the palace guards outside the palace.
"Your Highness, it's not that I won't let you in. It's really that His Majesty has ordered that no one should be seen," said Eunuch Yu in embarrassment. "You should go back first. The wind is cold. If you stay out for too long, you will catch a cold."
Qu Watanabe: "Please, Eunuch Yu, go in and report again."
Seeing that he had no intention of leaving, Eunuch Yu had no choice but to reenter the hall.
"Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince will not leave."
Emperor Chongzhao paused in his writing action.
"…go get him a cape."
Eunuch Yu responded and went out, and came back in a moment later, "Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince didn't want it, he asked me to give you something."
Emperor Chongzhao: "What is it?"
Eunuch Yu placed a square piece of black brocade on the table. After unfolding it, he saw a word written on it: "Yes."
Emperor Chongzhao put down his pen and said, "Let him in."
After Qu Dubian came in, Emperor Chongzhao smiled and said, "You came to exchange so soon. Tell me, what do you want from your father?"
Qu Watanabe: "Father, are you going to send my sister to marry?"
Emperor Chongzhao's smile faded: "I don't want to see you today, because I don't want to hear you talk about this topic with me."
"Northern Frontier's request for marriage this time is just a delaying tactic. King Kuru went to war with the Great Zhou to show his attitude to the war faction, and then asked for peace to consolidate the position of the new royal court."
"Once he is completely stable, Northern Xinjiang and Great Zhou will definitely go to war. In this case, my sister's marriage is just to maintain a false peace that the two countries know very well!"
Qu Dubian tried to speak to him calmly, "Why not take advantage of the new royal court being established to inflict pain on the Northern Frontier?"
This was the first time that Emperor Chongzhao heard his youngest son analyze the political affairs of the two countries, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Xia Hong is seriously injured, the northern border is unstable, and the domestic disaster has not been resolved. Now is not the time to start a war."
"After Zhiyi's marriage, she will unite with Princess Xiang's old subordinates in the previous royal court to play a certain role in restraining the new royal court. She may be able to buy more breathing time for the Great Zhou."
Emperor Chongzhao said, "Besides, we have to be on guard against Nanning."
Qu Dubian saw something spread out on the table besides the black brocade.
It was a proposal for a marriage with the Northern Frontier submitted by the Ministry of Rites, and Emperor Chongzhao was currently adjusting and revising it - the imperial decree for the marriage had not been issued, but the proposal was ready.
"That's my sister," Qu Dubian approached, speaking word by word, "Father, the place you're sending her to is a place where she will die!"
Emperor Chongzhao raised his head and spoke in a solemn tone, "She is your elder sister, but she is also a princess of the Great Zhou! A princess is no exception to the rule of loyalty to the emperor."
Qu Dubian put his hands on the table and said, "So what if we have peace for a while? What's the point of sending a woman to marry to stabilize the country? What's the point of having all the men of the Great Zhou! For the sake of one or two years, or two or three years of peace, I push my sister to the northern border. Father, you know very well that this war is just harder, but it is not like what you said that we can't fight it. It's just that you don't want to fight!"
Emperor Chongzhao said angrily: "How outrageous!"
"Yu Decai! Take the Seventh Prince out!"
Eunuch Yu hurried forward and said, "Your Highness, you should leave first."
He was horrified when he heard it.
Oh my god.
The Seventh Prince's stubborn temper has remained the same for the past ten years.
But this was different from usual. The Seventh Prince was usually naughty only in trivial daily matters, and that could still be called a joke between father and son.
But this is the first time that he has contradicted His Majesty on such a big matter. Bringing the Seventh Prince into the picture, Eunuch Yu feels like his life is doing a square dance on the King of Hell's fate book.
Qu Dubian broke free from Eunuch Yu's hand, stared at Emperor Chongzhao's angry face, and uttered the last three words.
"You're scared."
These three words hit Emperor Chongzhao's mind, his brain buzzed, his face flushed, and anger rushed to his forehead.
He smashed the pen holder beside him and pointed at the door: "Get out of here—"
Yu Decai knelt on the ground in shock: "Your Majesty, calm down!"
"I will go."
Qu Dubian interrupted Emperor Chongzhao's words.
Emperor Chongzhao was about to say something else when he saw the tears in his youngest son's eyes, as well as an indescribable feeling that made his heart ache.
The rest of the words were stuck in his mouth.
"father."
Emperor Chongzhao's lips trembled and his throat gradually became blocked.
The dull, suffocating feeling at the tip of my heart slowly spread around.
Qu Dubian pointed at the black brocade he had promised and said, "Is the support of the people of the three counties that my son has earned with his life enough to ensure my sister's peace of mind in this life?"
"I will fight in the northern border. In three or five years, I will give you a stable border."
Emperor Chongzhao struggled internally for a moment.
The father and son looked at each other for a long time.
Emperor Chongzhao: "Why do you want to fight? Why do I trust you? You are only fourteen years old and have not yet attended court. How can you convince the officials in the court who advocate marriage? How can you suppress the generals on the border!"
Without waiting for Qu Dubian to speak, Emperor Chongzhao continued: "My promise to you is limited to what you ask for yourself, and it must be within a reasonable range."
"I have already made plans for the marriage, so don't mention it again."
The momentary hesitation of Emperor Chongzhao seemed to be just an illusion. He turned his face away and closed the meeting paper.
"I am tired, you can go back."
Qu Dubian slowly stood up and took his hands off the edge of the table, leaving a deep red mark on his palms.
"When Aunt Xiang went to marry, did Father feel heartbroken?"
Emperor Chongzhao did not move.
Qu Watanabe took a step back and said, "I have offended Your Majesty today. Please forgive me."
Emperor Chongzhao closed his eyes and said, "Get out."
Qu Dubian bowed, turned around and strode away.
He didn't even glance at the black brocade on the table that represented his promise.
It was a long time after Qu Dubian left that Eunuch Yu dared to get up from the ground, and he didn't dare to say a word for a long time.
He lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, this black brocade..."
No answer was heard.
Eunuch Yu bravely looked up at Emperor Chongzhao.
There was still anger in Emperor Chongzhao's eyes, but there was something else besides anger.
"I really didn't expect that he would go to this extent with me just for Zhiyi."
Eunuch Yu lowered his eyes, and just when he thought that Emperor Chongzhao's next sentence would be an accusation against the Seventh Prince for being ignorant.
But I heard a somewhat tired voice:
"Does he hate me..."
Eunuch Yu was stunned and didn't know how to respond for a long time.
He just said dryly: "No."
-
The other side.
Qu Dubian walked out of the Purple Palace.
He was preparing to go to Shunning Palace, but his steps were slower than any other time he went home.
However, after walking a short distance, the sound of running came from the front. Qu Dubian looked up and saw Zhiyi running towards him.
Zhiyi was panting, with anxiety in her eyes, and she walked around him in a circle.
"I was in Shunning Palace this afternoon trying to persuade Mother and Empress Xuan, and I just heard that you had a quarrel with Father. How was it, did he not hit you?"
"Where did you hit? Let me see."
The sourness at the tip of her nose instantly spread to her eye sockets. Qu Dubian hugged her silently, his arms tightened.
"You didn't hit me."
"Sister, I'm sorry."
Zhiyi patted him on the shoulder and said, "Oh, isn't it just a marriage? I'm not afraid!"
Qu Watanabe: "I'm afraid."
Zhiyi blinked, forcing back the tears in her eyes, and then said, "You are the bravest. Let's go back to the palace with my sister first."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com