The Fourth Prince's enthusiastic attitude towards the Third Prince made everyone realize that this was the best opportunity to curry favor with the Fourth Prince and also the best opportunity to solidify their own position. Only one princess would be married off in the marriage alliance, and it was still unknown who would be chosen. If they did not make their stance clear at this time, it might arouse the Fourth Prince's suspicion.
As expected, both Fifth Master and Seventh Master stood up and expressed their willingness to share the Emperor's burdens and contribute to the Qing Dynasty.
Of course, the princess recommended was not a legitimate princess, but a daughter born out of wedlock.
Lanqin sat on the stage, overwhelmed with mixed feelings, something stuck in her throat, unable to speak. This was probably reality; human life meant nothing in this dynasty, let alone a concubine's daughter sent for a political marriage. Power and wealth were their ultimate pursuits.
Lanqin noticed that the Eighth Prince remained silent in his seat, his face grim and not uttering a word. Lanqin knew that the Eighth Prince had a daughter, born to his concubine, Lady Chen, and that she was not young. However, the Eighth Prince seemed unwilling to send his daughter away for a political marriage, even if she was born out of wedlock.
Ninth Master coldly watched Fifth Master and Seventh Master make their recommendations, his eyes fixed on his wine glass, a disdainful smirk playing on his lips. Ninth Master was the prince with the fewest offspring among all the imperial relatives, possessing only one daughter. Naturally, he wouldn't be willing to send his only daughter away for a political marriage.
Then there are the daughters of the Tenth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince. They are both too young to marry and therefore cannot be married off.
After a long pause, the Fourth Prince stood up from his seat and said with satisfaction, "It is a righteous act for all the princes and relatives to offer to send their daughters for a political marriage! I am very pleased and satisfied..."
After speaking, he looked gratefully at the princes who had stepped forward earlier, and smiled in return, saying, "I hereby announce that I will adopt the third and fourth princesses of Prince Cheng as my daughters, and bestow upon them the title of princess. I will also bestow the title of princess upon the fourth princess of the fifth prince. After the Lotus Banquet, they will all be sent to the palace on a chosen day. The matter of the marriage alliance will be discussed later. These princesses are now my daughters, princesses of the Qing Dynasty, and I will certainly treat them well..."
Everyone exclaimed that the Emperor was wise, but a muffled sound came from the palace. When the Fifth Prince's daughter heard her name, she was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground. The maids on both sides rushed to catch her and she finally sat up. Her body was stiff, and she seemed to have lost two of her three souls. Her eyes were wide open and she was trembling.
Fifth Master turned his head and glared at her fiercely. The princess shed two lines of clear tears, her expression unreadable, as still as a stagnant pool. Fifth Master glanced warily at Fourth Master, and seeing that Fourth Master was unaware of what was happening in the palace, he breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he gestured to the maid to keep a close eye on the princess, while he smiled and drank with Fourth Master.
"Who is that princess?" Lanqin asked Baoqin beside her, looking at the princess who had just been rude with concern.
Baoqin refilled Lanqin's empty cup with wine, glanced up at her, and said calmly, "She is the princess that Fifth Master mentioned earlier, the one personally appointed by Fourth Master..."
Lanqin said softly, "This child is very scared, and no one is comforting him..."
Baoqin sighed and said, "There's nothing we can do. Her father personally recommended her. This is the fate of illegitimate daughters! Your Majesty, please don't think about it anymore. As long as your daughter doesn't have to go to a political marriage, that's enough. There are some things Your Majesty can't control..."
Lanqin picked up her wine glass and downed the wine in one gulp, the spicy taste rushing from her mouth all the way to her throat...
Lanqin knew in her heart that none of these princesses were willing to go to the marriage alliance. Unfortunately, as royal daughters, they had enjoyed a life of luxury and wealth that ordinary people could only dream of from birth, and naturally, they had to bear the royal destiny without any responsibility. They had no right to choose, much less the right to refuse...
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