Chapter 46 Who is the murderer?
"Your Highness, you won't end up liking no one, will you?"
"No way, what's the point of holding a ceremony to select male concubines if you don't choose any of them? Besides, at the very front there are top beauties like Ming Shendu, Xiao Yelan, Xie Mingyuan, Yan Qingyan, and Qin Ge, who are good-looking, talented, skilled in martial arts, and virtuous."
"These gentlemen are in no way inferior to Her Highness the Princess's former husband, Lord Cui Yunzhou."
"Do we have absolutely no chance?"
"Probably. I heard before that the princess went to a brothel and spent a lot of money to redeem two handsome men. If the princess can value the people in the brothel, we must have a chance too."
...
The remaining 100-plus candidates panicked when Tianyao eliminated more than 30 people without selecting a single one, and began to discuss among themselves in hushed tones.
Only Ming Shendu, Xiao Yelan, Xie Mingyuan, Yan Qingyan, and Qin Ge stood upright, neither turning around to look behind them nor to the side, whispering amongst themselves. They stood silently, waiting for Tianyao's choice.
After another incense stick's time, Tianyao eliminated more than 100 people, leaving only Ming Shendu, Xiao Yelan, Xie Mingyuan, Yan Qingyan, and Qin Ge.
She rejected all the people sent by the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine.
Nonsense, how could I possibly put the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine's people in my own princess's residence?
Now, the Empress Dowager's reach is already far enough. If she were to send someone to the princess's residence, the Empress Dowager would know exactly when the princess has her period.
The same goes for the Imperial Concubine Dowager. Since she wasn't her biological mother, she felt no guilt in refusing her request.
Tianyao turned around and was about to walk towards Qin Ge, who was standing closest to her, when Tianheng's voice suddenly rang out.
"Yaoyao, come here, have some water, then choose."
Tianyao stopped in her tracks at the sound, looked up at Qin Ge, and met his gaze.
His eyes were resolute and clear, which gave her a jolt.
Perhaps I should give Qin Ge an answer.
Tianyao gritted her teeth, made up her mind, stood still, turned her head, looked at Tianheng from afar, opened her mouth, raised her voice, and replied in a clear and bright voice.
"I'm not thirsty yet, I'll drink later."
After saying that, without waiting for Tianheng's reply, he turned around, took a step, and walked firmly to Qin Ge.
"Qin Ge, are you really willing to be my male concubine?"
She tilted her head back, her bright eyes fixed intently on Qin Ge, and asked softly.
"I really am willing."
Qin Ge answered without hesitation.
Tianyao: "..."
His answer was so straightforward that it made her hesitate, because it felt like she was putting Qin Ge in a bad light.
If he were not a male concubine but a husband, she would not hesitate so much. After all, she is a princess of the Great Wei Kingdom and is absolutely worthy of Qin Ge.
It's her preconceived notions about social status and family background that are causing this.
It's because the concept she was taught in her previous life was gender equality.
Neither males being superior to females nor females being superior to males constitutes gender equality.
Suddenly, Qin Ge, who was a head taller than Tian Yao, lowered his body, knelt on one knee, lowered his head, and spoke in a firm and powerful voice.
"Your Highness, I am willing, truly willing. If Your Highness has even the slightest affection for me, then I humbly beg Your Highness to choose me!"
His voice exploded in Tianyao's mind like a thunderclap, and she subconsciously took a step back.
She clenched her hands at her sides, pressed her lips together, and after a long while, under the tense gaze of everyone, she slowly reached out her hand to Qin Ge and spoke in a voice that was as soft as could be.
"Okay, I choose you."
I choose you.
Those four simple words brought a pure and sincere smile to Qin Ge's face, a man of steel who had been stationed on the border for years.
He looked up and saw Tianyao's fair and delicate hand. Without hesitation, he raised his rough and large palm, held Tianyao's hand tightly, and stood up.
Not far away, Tianheng stared intently at Tianyao and Qinge's clasped hands, his hand on the armrest of the chair almost crushing it.
He felt envy, jealousy, and hatred.
If Yao Yao's true identity were exposed, or his true identity were exposed, would Yao Yao also say to him, "I choose you," at that moment?
He longed to hear Yao Yao say those words to him.
But perhaps I will never hear it in this lifetime.
Because, for the rest of his life, he will be the ruler of the Great Wei Kingdom, and she will always be the apple of the Great Wei Kingdom's eye.
Between him and her lay vast distances, ethical and moral barriers, and her rejection.
If she were to tell him that she loves him, he would be willing to give up his entire empire.
But she wouldn't tell, he knew she absolutely wouldn't.
Even if she really had feelings for him, she wouldn't say it.
Because in her heart, living safely and comfortably is the most important thing; everything else is secondary, including love, him, the male concubine she has chosen now, and her former husband.
He had impulsive moments, but those impulses vanished when she chose to marry Cui Yunzhou, when she never once took the initiative to contact him in the three years that followed, and when he saw the wariness and resistance in her gaze.
He couldn't, and didn't want to, hurt her in the name of love.
He had also considered exposing the fact that she wasn't a real princess when she first betrayed him by choosing to marry Cui Yunzhou.
But later, he didn't do it.
He could have forcefully and domineeringly obtained her against her will, as the ruler of a country, but he would not.
Because that is selfish love, no, perhaps it doesn't even qualify as love, it's just to satisfy possessiveness.
True love is respecting her, protecting her, and giving her everything she wants.
Tianheng lowered his eyes and closed them, not wanting to look anymore. His heart ached, the pain was so intense that he could hardly breathe.
"His Majesty!"
Suddenly, a cry of surprise rang out; it was the voice of Tianheng's personal eunuch.
At this time, Tianyao had already chosen her male concubines. She first chose Qin Ge, then Xiao Yelan, then Ming Shendu, then Xie Mingyuan, and then Yan Qingyan.
Hearing the sound, her dark pupils contracted sharply. She turned around urgently and saw Tianheng sitting in a chair, bent over, spitting blood. Her eyes widened in fury, and in the blink of an eye, she rushed to Tianheng's side.
"Brother Heng!"
A voice filled with worry and fear came from Tianyao's mouth.
"Brother Heng," she hadn't heard him call him that in so long.
Tianheng covered his blood-stained mouth with his hand, raised his head slightly, and looked up with a familiar smile in his dark eyes. He said, "Don't be afraid, I'm fine. I won't die anytime soon."
"Don't say anything."
"Imperial physician! What are you all standing around for?"
Tianyao suddenly turned her head and roared at the people around her, completely different from her usual calm and composed self.
Upon hearing this, everyone came to their senses, and several guards hurriedly ran to fetch the imperial physician.
"Guards, arrest everyone here and interrogate them one by one."
Tianyao spoke again, her tone authoritative.
At this moment, everyone panicked. Yes, if His Majesty was in trouble, then everyone present was a suspect.
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