Chapter 329 Imperial Marriage
Xu Jinnian's appointment as Imperial Diarist not only attracted attention in the Hanlin Academy, but also quickly reached the ears of Princess Mu Yuanzhen.
She never gave up on Xu Jinnian, and thought about getting him into her bed every day.
Upon learning that Xu Jinnian had won the Emperor's favor, she hurriedly went to the main courtyard and said to Princess Pingyuan, "Mother, please take me to the palace immediately. I request His Majesty to grant me a marriage!"
Since losing her status as a princess, Mu Yuanzhen could no longer freely enter and leave the palace as before.
Princess Pingyuan paused in pruning the flowers, then looked up at her troublesome daughter with a frown: "He is already married with a daughter. Are you going to ask His Majesty to grant you a marriage so you can become his concubine?"
A ruthless glint flashed in Mu Yuanzhen's eyes as he said resentfully, "My daughter will be his concubine. Once she marries him, we'll have plenty of ways to make that lowly mother and daughter disappear!"
Princess Pingyuan slammed down the scissors, a hint of anger flashing across her unadorned face:
"You are my daughter, destined to be the most noble woman in the world. How can you be made a concubine by a lowly court attendant? If word gets out, where will I put my face?"
Mu Yuanzhen seemed surprised that Princess Pingyuan would object, and a look of confusion appeared on her arrogant and sinister face: "Mother, didn't you not object to your daughter being with Xu Mingyu before?"
Princess Pingyuan sneered: "I don't object to you letting him into your household as a male concubine, but there's absolutely no way you'll marry him as a secondary wife!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Yuanzhen immediately became anxious: "I like Xu Mingyu, and I am willing to be his concubine. Mother, please grant my wish!"
Xu Mingyu has already caught His Majesty's eye and has a bright future. If she doesn't seize the opportunity to marry him now, once he rises to become a key minister in the court, there will be even less possibility between them.
Seeing her daughter so stubbornly unrepentant, Princess Pingyuan could not hide her disappointment:
"Yuan Zhen, I will not care how many male concubines you keep, but you cannot indulge in love and ruin my important affairs."
Mu Yuanzhen wouldn't listen: "Mother, I just want to marry someone, how could that ruin your important plans? Please take me to the palace."
Princess Pingyuan closed her eyes, regretting that she had spoiled her too much over the years, which had made her so muddle-headed.
Looking at the stubborn Mu Yuanzhen, Princess Pingyuan said after a long while, "Alright, I will take you into the palace."
After the morning court session, Emperor Jinghe handled state affairs in his study.
Upon hearing the eunuch's report that Princess Pingyuan and her daughter were requesting an audience, he was slightly surprised and put down his vermilion brush: "Summon them."
Princess Pingyuan led Mu Yuanzhen in and bowed to Emperor Jinghe at the head of the table.
"No need for formalities, Your Majesty. Please take a seat."
Emperor Jinghe treated the mother and daughter with gentleness, just as before.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Princess Pingyuan expressed her gratitude and sat down with Mu Yuanzhen with a smile.
Emperor Jinghe was very busy and too lazy to engage in pleasantries with Princess Pingyuan, so he asked, "I wonder what brings you here, Your Majesty?"
Princess Pingyuan glanced at Mu Yuanzhen, who looked anxious, and when she looked up again, her face showed a mixture of helplessness and heartache:
"Sigh, it's all because of Yuan Zhen's marriage. She's already twenty years old and has finally met a man she likes. That's why Pingyuan shamelessly went to the palace to ask His Majesty for a marriage decree on her behalf."
Emperor Jinghe's heart sank, but he showed surprise on his face and smiled as he looked at Mu Yuanzhen:
"It's a good thing that this child has someone she likes. I wonder which young master has caught her eye."
Princess Pingyuan gently patted Mu Yuanzhen's hand and said with a smile, "Tell your imperial uncle yourself."
Mu Yuanzhen showed a rare moment of shyness, then stood up and looked at Emperor Jinghe with hopeful eyes, saying:
"Uncle, Yuan Zhen has admired Xu, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, for many years. I beg you to issue an imperial decree to grant me marriage so that I may marry Xu."
When his guess came true, Emperor Jinghe almost lost his composure.
He took a deep breath and asked Mu Yuanzhen with a kind expression, "Is Xu Xiuzhuan already married and had a daughter last year? Are you aware of this?"
Mu Yuanzhen's eyes flashed with even more jealousy, but he quickly composed himself and nodded, saying, "Yuanzhen knows, but Yuanzhen is magnanimous and doesn't mind keeping that mother and daughter."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Emperor Jinghe slammed his palm heavily on the imperial desk with a loud bang: "Outrageous! How can you, the daughter of a princess, share a husband with another man!"
Mu Yuanzhen had never seen Emperor Jinghe angry before, and he was immediately frightened, turning pale, but quickly regained his composure:
“Uncle, Yuan Zhen likes Lord Xu, but he just happens to have a wife. Yuan Zhen doesn’t mind.”
Emperor Jinghe grew increasingly angry and looked at Princess Pingyuan coldly, saying, "Elder sister, Yuan Zhen is so willful; you are far too indulgent towards her."
Princess Pingyuan stood up, bowed to Emperor Jinghe, and said with a wry smile:
“Your Majesty, Pingyuan is also unwilling, but Yuan Zhen is determined to marry Xu Xiuzhuan, and Pingyuan really can’t persuade her otherwise.”
Emperor Jinghe sneered inwardly upon hearing this.
Is it because she can't refuse? Or is she just testing his attitude?
Emperor Jinghe showed no outward expression, refusing without the slightest hesitation:
"I will not issue this imperial decree of marriage. My elder sister should find a suitable husband for Yuan Zhen as soon as possible, lest she cause trouble and disgrace the royal family!"
Mu Yuanzhen was greatly alarmed, not expecting Emperor Jinghe to refuse, and immediately began to make a scene:
"It's just a small matter, why can't you agree, Imperial Uncle? Is the dignity of the royal family more important than Yuan Zhen's lifelong happiness?"
Emperor Jinghe's forehead twitched, and he wished he could slap her to death.
Compared to royal dignity, your lifelong happiness is worthless!
With this in mind, Emperor Jinghe's expression softened, and he earnestly instructed:
“Yuan Zhen, Xu Xiuzhuan and his wife are deeply in love and will not tolerate any third party interfering. If you force yourself to marry into their family, you may ruin the rest of your life.”
Upon hearing these words, Princess Pingyuan's eyes flickered slightly, and she picked up the teacup on the table.
Mu Yuanzhen wouldn't listen to any of this. She was very dissatisfied with Emperor Jinghe, and this was evident on her face: "Uncle Emperor, as long as Yuanzhen marries into that family, he will definitely see how good Yuanzhen is!"
He's a million times better than that slut who took him for granted!
Her mother was Princess Pingyuan, the first princess of the Great Wei to have a fiefdom, surpassing even the princes.
As long as Xu Mingyu marries her, with the support of the Princess's Mansion, Xu Mingyu's future will surely rise to new heights.
No man in the world would be willing to give up power that is within his grasp.
Seeing that Mu Yuanzhen was so stubborn, Emperor Jinghe also lost his patience: "Let me think about this matter. You should go back with your mother first."
Mu Yuanzhen was extremely unwilling to accept that he had not gotten the result he wanted, and hurriedly looked at Princess Pingyuan, hoping that she could put in a good word for him.
Princess Pingyuan ignored her, curtsied and took her leave, forcefully pulling her away.
Emperor Jinghe watched the mother and daughter leave, his face darkening.
He glanced at the court official diligently writing in the corner, rubbed his temples, picked up his vermilion brush, and continued reviewing memorials.
Xu Jinnian was completely unaware of this farce. It wasn't until the next day, when he entered the palace to perform his duties as a court attendant, that he learned what Mu Yuanzhen had done from Emperor Jinghe's seemingly joking words.
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