Chapter 175: Heart-to-heart talk between the ruler and his subjects
"Song Tingchen, I asked you to come to the palace this time because I have an important matter for you to handle."
Emperor Qinglong's indifferent voice sounded above Song Tingchen's head.
Before Song Tingchen could kneel down to accept the order and say that he would definitely live up to the trust placed in him, he heard Emperor Qinglong say, "I order you to avoid associating with those messy women outside, and don't get involved with a few life-saving benefactors for no apparent reason."
"Just live a good life with Su Tan."
"Let her take good care of her husband and children, and stop interfering in matters that are not her business. Similarly, I will also issue an edict prohibiting you from taking concubines or mistresses. You will guard Su Tan for the rest of your life."
Emperor Qinglong's tone suddenly became a little sharp when he spoke.
His gaze was like a knife, deeply engraved on Song Tingchen, and he asked in a deep voice: "I ask you, can you do what I say?"
He was an emperor. Even though he was already in his twilight years and was relying on some elixirs to keep alive, he still spoke with an air of majesty and a deep sense of oppression.
There was a cold glint in his eyes at this moment, as if he would immediately order Song Tingchen to die if he dared not agree.
Song Tingchen's brows tightened instantly.
It’s not that he doesn’t want to.
He would love to have the chance to reconcile with Su Tan, or even to have the chance to protect Su Tan and make up for the sins he committed in the past.
However—Song Tingchen's eyes showed a hint of vigilance, his brows knitted together, and he did not directly answer Emperor Qinglong's words. Instead, he asked, "Why did Your Majesty suddenly say this?"
Emperor Qinglong never liked to interfere in the family affairs of his subjects.
When he and Su Tan divorced, the whole capital was in uproar, and many people almost wanted to break the spines of everyone in the Song family, but Emperor Qinglong did not ask a single question.
In the eyes of Emperor Qinglong, the personal morality and family affairs of his subjects were not important at all.
Why did Emperor Qinglong make such a strange request now?
Emperor Qinglong's gaze was still on Song Tingchen, but he suddenly snorted slowly.
"Su Tan is a capable man."
"If she were a man, I would have taken her under my wing as my loyal minister."
If Su Tan was more knowledgeable and sensible, like Master Ye who was so attentive in refining pills for him and only focused all his attention on being loyal to the king, he could turn a blind eye to the things Su Tan did in the past.
But Su Tan doesn't know how to appreciate it.
Emperor Qinglong's fingers slowly tapped the dragon table. His gaze fell on Song Tingchen, and he spoke word by word, "But she is a woman. No matter how capable a woman is, she can only serve as a good wife and mother."
"She's different. She's the hen that crows at dawn, meddling in other people's business."
These words are extremely serious and bad when used to describe a woman.
So much so that the area between Song Tingchen's eyebrows was instantly covered with frost and snow.
Song Tingchen's heart tightened, and he subconsciously said, "Your Majesty, Su Tan was not like this before. It was only after she lost her parents that her personality suddenly changed."
Emperor Qinglong snorted coldly, "What a hopeless girl! Su Tan is so cruel and heartless, yet you still subconsciously plead for him."
But that's okay.
It’s not a bad thing for a man to be more affectionate.
After all, Song Tingchen is not like him who owns the world and cannot give his true heart to any woman.
As one of his most trusted generals, Song Tingchen's affection was equivalent to a soft spot.
It's like having a bond.
And Su Tan's attitude towards Song Tingchen...
Emperor Qinglong just sneered.
Although Su Tan always talks about cutting off all feelings and love, and seems to be really heartless, Emperor Qinglong never believes that there is any woman who can give up the word love.
Even if she can give up love, can Su Tan give up her identity as a mother?
Su Tan and Song Tingchen have a son.
Even if Su Tan doesn't consider Song Tingchen's sake.
Isn't it for Song Xiao's sake?
Song Tingchen lowered his eyes and was silent for a while before saying, "It's not that I'm deeply affectionate. I believe I've let Su Tan down too much in the past, and now I just want to make amends."
"Your Majesty just said that Su Tan has a cold personality. I agree with you. She wasn't like this before. It's only because she lost her parents that her personality has changed drastically. I hope Your Majesty won't hold it against her."
Emperor Qinglong disagreed.
"She lost both her parents, and I have already made her a county lady. I have even given her so much gold, silver, and jewelry. I have given her no less honor and respect. What more could she want?"
"As for what you're saying about you being unfair to her in the past, in my opinion, it's perfectly normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines. She's just being petty. How can she blame you for everything?"
At most, Su Tan is incompetent.
He couldn't even defeat Liu Qingyin, who was born into a merchant family.
But now Liu Qingyin is dead.
If Su Tan continues to dwell on the past, wouldn't that be a bit too petty?
Song Tingchen lowered his eyes and said nothing.
He had heard such words countless times before.
It is indeed very common for a man to have three wives and four concubines.
In the past, Song Tingchen did think that Su Tan’s ideas were too extreme.
By now, he understood a lot.
The more women there are in the harem, the more trouble there will be.
All of Su Tan's previous worries came true one by one later.
"Your Majesty, it was I who broke my promise. It was also I who broke her heart."
"That's enough." Emperor Qinglong waved his hands impatiently. He didn't like what Song Tingchen said. "I just want to ask you one question. Can you do what I just said?"
He wanted Song Tingchen to only stay with Su Tan in the future, not because he thought men should be loyal.
But he knew that Su Tan was just so intolerant.
He is so petty that he actually dreams of being together for the rest of his life.
But there was no way. Compared to a hen crowing at dawn, Emperor Qinglong was obviously more tolerant of Su Tan's unrealistic dream of being together for the rest of their lives.
After all, they are a couple for life, and it is Song Tingchen's interests that are sacrificed.
But if Su Tan is allowed to continue causing trouble outside, then the interests of him as the ruler of the world will be sacrificed.
Song Tingchen knelt on the ground, bowed to Emperor Qinglong and said, "Your Majesty is willing to give me this opportunity. I am grateful to you."
"In the days ahead, I will put all my thoughts on Su Tan, will never make her sad again, and will take good care of her."
"But...but when I married Su Tan, my family was humble, and now I don't want to wrong her anymore."
Emperor Qinglong rolled his eyes at Song Tingchen.
It turns out that Song Tingchen was crying poor in front of him.
What does he mean?
What he meant was that he couldn't afford the betrothal gift to marry Su Tan, so he wanted him, the ruler of the world, to pay for it for Song Tingchen?
Emperor Qinglong frowned. With his stingy nature, he felt uncomfortable even taking out a penny from the national treasury.
Not to mention allocating money from his own private treasury.
But - but remembering that Master Ye said that Su Tan and Lu Zhiheng now admired each other, a hint of deep vigilance flashed across Emperor Qinglong's eyes again.
Song Tingchen was his subject, so Emperor Qinglong could naturally guarantee that Song Tingchen would be loyal to him.
But Lu Zhiheng is different, Lu Zhiheng is his son.
What if - what if Lu Zhiheng and Su Tan fall in love with each other, based on Lu Zhiheng's personality, he will definitely kill him first and report later.
Emperor Qinglong cannot allow such a thing to happen again.
The former Princess Chen was of humble origin and had no special abilities, so she was not worthy of his attention.
Su Tan is different.
Su Tan's ability was so great that even he felt afraid.
Emperor Qinglong's eyes turned, and he immediately made a choice. He smiled and said to Song Tingchen, "Don't worry. No matter what Su Tan is, she is still the Princess Jiayi appointed by my imperial hand. When she gets married, both the betrothal gifts and the dowry are indispensable."
"I will never let her down."
"You won't let the world think that you have wronged her."
"Tingchen, is there anything you are worried about right now?"
Although Emperor Qinglong had a smile on his face, as if everything could be negotiated, if Song Tingchen continued to be greedy and demand more, he would be ignorant.
As expected, Song Tingchen simply knelt down and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
