Chapter 269 Su Daji? I know…
After an unknown amount of time, the Peony Banquet was drawing to a close.
Tao Jiang's face was flushed from playing, with a few strands of damp hair clinging to her cheek. Her eyes sparkled like stars, and her smile was radiant. She jumped off her bicycle with a light and graceful movement, then turned to Qi Gongzi with obvious fondness: "Today was really fun, but it's a pity that time flew by so quickly?"
She said reluctantly.
Qi Chengming glanced casually at the boys and girls around him who were also having a great time, and suggested, "Let's play again next time. After you've learned how, I'll find a bigger place and organize a bicycle party—how about we play again?"
Tao Jiang felt a flush rise to her face under his gaze. She looked away slightly and bit her lower lip, saying, "Who knows when? His Majesty is holding a selection of concubines... I don't know if I'll be able to come next time."
"It doesn't matter if others come, but if Miss Tao doesn't come, this bicycle banquet won't be very interesting."
Qi Chengming tentatively revealed his true feelings.
Having had his fun, Qi Chengming still enjoys playing around with others. But playing with strangers is never as enjoyable as playing with his closest friends.
Tao Jiang glanced at him, uttered a single sentence, bowed, and turned to flee in a flustered manner, her voice trembling with a hint of shyness: "If Young Master Qi is interested, we can discuss it further after His Majesty's selection of consorts..."
This means they need to go back and inform their parents.
The process of "selecting a suitable candidate" begins with inquiring about the family background of the young talent. If the candidate is agreeable, everything must wait until after the new emperor's selection process is over before asking a middleman for his opinion.
After the banquet ended.
When Madam Qi came to pay her respects to Qi Chengming, she dared not ask directly, but instead asked tactfully, "Your Majesty seems to be having a lot of fun riding the bicycle. Have you found a suitable companion?"
Qi Chengming blinked with a youthful air, happily got up and took a few steps, without giving a clear answer: "I still need to ask my relatives, uncles, aunts and cousins to hold a few more flower banquets."
Upon first meeting her, he thought Miss Tao was quite nice; she was sincere, beautiful, and they got along well, which was enough for him.
The girls on the final list of empresses are all talented and beautiful, with no shortage of ability to manage household affairs. The only problem is that their family backgrounds are generally not high. No matter who is chosen, if they want to take on the responsibilities of the palace, they will have to learn from the ladies-in-waiting for a period of time. Even if their skills and vision are lacking, they will still have the ladies-in-waiting to help them. So it all depends on how well Qi Chengming gets along with the girl.
After all, he wanted to find himself a family.
...
Over the next month.
Opinions were divided in the imperial court, and no decision was reached on the selection of candidates.
A terrifying rumor circulated that His Majesty had no such intention and only wished to choose an empress. The ministers' attention was immediately drawn to this, with some earnest and persistent officials pleading with him to change his mind, some weeping uncontrollably, others kneeling and begging shamelessly. It was as if a monarch who only married one wife and did not take concubines had broken the laws of heaven, torn a hole in the sky, and committed an unforgivable crime.
Among such people, there are quite a few reborn officials, all of whom have daughters of marriageable age in their families or clans.
In their past lives, they had never seen the new emperor show any interest in anyone, and he always ended up alone, so it was understandable... As his subjects, they could only give up. But now, the new emperor was willing to take a wife, wasn't that a concession? Wasn't there a glimmer of hope? What if they pleaded and urged him, and the new emperor changed his mind and agreed to hold a selection of concubines?
This isn't a political matter! They're capable of saying a few words about it.
"..." Only a few insightful people remained eerily silent, never offering a word of advice.
Haven't they figured out the new emperor's personality yet? He's not one to listen to his ministers' advice; he's extremely opinionated, and he's managed to get things done since his ascension, regardless of the means. Do they really think they can force the monarch to change? Even if there are ministers with some affection for him, it's naive to think they can coerce him like that.
Qi Chengming remained unmoved.
He subtly influenced and educated these officials of the feudal dynasty in their daily work, hoping they would learn his modern ideas and improve the world. Now that it's his turn to find a companion, when did his family affairs become anyone else's business?
He wasn't a son-in-law who had married into the royal family. Although the throne was fraught with crises and he hadn't yet fully secured his position, he didn't need to sell himself to cultivate close relationships with his ministers—Qi Chengming wasn't willing to dedicate himself to the stability of the country to that extent.
This month, Qi Chengming avoided the constant political turmoil in the court and asked his relatives to invite the Tao family to several flower banquets. Their private interactions became increasingly harmonious. The relatives were all from distant branches and had no prior connection with the new emperor. They were eager to curry favor with him, but since they were all of the same bloodline, they kept their mouths shut when they couldn't get anything out of him.
For Qi Chengming—
The two were more like close childhood playmates. The youthful exuberance of a boy often led him to indulge in fantasies, yet he had to restrain himself and maintain propriety, causing him much unease. This subtle affection and novelty gave Qi Chengming a taste of new flavor, finally giving him a more concrete vision for the future.
But when the two met again at the kite festival on that day, Miss Tao hesitated to speak, her gaze turning somewhat uncertain.
The young girl hung her head, her mind preoccupied, even her sorrowful eyes and brows seemed to hold a poetic beauty. Qi Chengming, of course, wouldn't ignore this, and while inwardly praising her, he asked, "Miss Tao, is something troubling you today?"
As long as the man and woman haven't completely settled their lifelong commitment, they can't possibly change how they address each other.
From the first time they met until now, Young Master Qi has been very polite, gentle, and considerate, without any faults. He respects her preferences and knows how to act without trying to please her or causing her any controversy... After spending this time together, and with His Majesty's golden words of not wanting to hold a selection of concubines, Tao Jiang's heart has firmly settled on Young Master Qi.
To put it bluntly, her marriage was more complicated than that of ordinary girls. But if it weren't for this complicated process, and her relationship with her former fiancé—if it weren't for this experience, Tao Jiang wouldn't have had this vague comparison, and wouldn't have realized that there were such good men as Young Master Qi in the world.
Tao Jiang couldn't wait to tell her parents to inquire about Young Master Qi's family background.
But the result...
"Young Master Qi." Tao Jiang hesitated, her brows furrowed. She was truly afraid, but she still mustered her courage to ask, "May I ask if Young Master Qi's family is a member of the imperial clan from Chang'an? My mother has inquired extensively in the capital, but has never heard of Young Master Qi's name..."
The loyal servant who went to Chang'an to investigate is already on his way, but it will take some time for the correspondence to travel back and forth.
Tao Jiang felt uneasy.
As long as this matter remains unresolved, her mother cannot easily contact the elders of Young Master Qi's family, causing her family considerable distress. In fact, she already knew that Young Master Qi's birth mother had passed away early, and those who had made the decisions at the recent flower banquets were all distant relatives of Young Master Qi. No wonder he had to come out and worry about his own marriage.
Upon hearing this, Qi Chengming knew that the time had come.
He no longer concealed anything, and said with a solemn apology, "Miss Tao, I have been honest with you about everything, but there is one thing I have kept from you since we first met. I am indeed the second child in my family, but I was not favored by my father from a young age and was sent away from the capital to live far away from home for many years. As for marriage, I was unwilling at all, for fear of burdening others. Later, my greatest wish was simply to have a wife I could talk to, which would be a great blessing."
"I have long ago sworn an oath to be devoted to my wife, to support each other, and to never stray..."
"During this time, I have gradually fallen in love with Miss Tao, but I have not yet revealed my real name. I apologize to Miss Tao in advance," Qi Chengming said with shame. He spoke these words quickly and urgently, afraid that Miss Tao would misunderstand.
Tao Jiang felt a growing sense of unease as she listened. She gripped the hem of her skirt and asked in a trembling voice, "What?"
"—My surname is Qi, and my given name is Chengming. I am the second son of the Emperor Emeritus."
Isn't that the name of the current emperor?!
Tao Jiang's vision blurred, she stared in disbelief, feeling utterly bewildered. She couldn't tell if she was more overjoyed or simply incredulous; a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she swayed unsteadily. At that moment, Tao Jiang recalled the widespread rumor that the new emperor had recently stated unequivocally that he refused to participate in the imperial concubine selection and only wanted to marry one empress…
Tao Jiang bit her lower lip, unsure whether to laugh or cry, and was speechless for a moment:
"You...you..."
“I know Miss Tao needs time to understand, so I won’t disturb you any longer. If Miss Tao has no intention of doing this, these words will remain just words in our ears. Afterwards, Madam Tao will only find out that ‘Qi Zhong is a country bumpkin who lied about his noble family name and was discovered by you in time.’”
Qi Chengming knew he couldn't rush things, so he told her everything, offering apologies and showing consideration, without pressuring the Tao family to make a choice. He also assured her that if she became angry and unwilling later, he wouldn't threaten the girl. After saying this, he left.
Tao Jiang's thoughts became increasingly chaotic. She felt ashamed, angry, surprised, and at a loss, recalling Qi Gongzi's gentle yet hateful face... She simply couldn't reconcile this with the decisive and efficient new emperor she had heard about recently.
For a moment, Tao Jiang stomped her foot, unsure whether she should be angry or not. She could only cover her face with a handkerchief, turn around, and rush out.
this……
Is she out of her mind? Who knows how long a king's promise not to choose a concubine can last? But she is indeed interested in Young Master Qi. Now she has the only noble man in the world. How could she possibly turn down such a good husband?
Although...but...
Oh dear, Young Master Qi is still too hateful!
Tao Jiang thought angrily.
...
When Tao Jiang returned home and told her what had happened, her whole family thought she was having a nightmare. But after mustering up the courage to go out and inquire for a while, it was as if someone was deliberately waiting near their home. Tao's mother found out everything about the current emperor when he was still in Liuzhou.
Using the alias Qi Zhong... he enjoys living in seclusion, making friends, and having fun together...
Tao's mother was truly dumbfounded.
Tao's father was also dumbfounded.
Could it be that my daughter is really going to hit the jackpot and become empress?
Tao's father pondered this over and over, but it just didn't seem real. He was merely a lowly fifth-rank official with no real power; what exactly did His Majesty see in him? His family had absolutely no connections or influence, and his daughter's former fiancé's family was constantly causing trouble. Could it be that his daughter was truly so capable, managing to bewitch His Majesty so completely?
Only one person? No more concubines? Single-minded devotion? They've made such a promise.
...Su Daji??
Tao's father could not understand.
He stroked his chin and scrutinized his daughter from head to toe several times, but he still couldn't figure out what she was like. His eyebrows furrowed into an absurd shape, and he was in great pain.
This doesn't seem like it at all!
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Author's note: Tao Jiang (hesitant to speak): ...Dad, can you say something nice?
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