Chapter 113: Defeat the scheming boy and tease the sultry general (23)
That day, Li Ziyan went to the Empress Dowager's palace. The Empress Dowager, who was over fifty years old, cried so hard that she almost fainted, and she felt mixed emotions.
"My son, it's your mother who has wronged you..."
"Mother, this is my own decision," Li Ziyan smiled, a satisfied smile on his frail face. "Besides, this is just a temporary solution. I will be fine. You must trust my brother."
There were not many people in the room, including Li Ziyan's family of three, Chu Heng, Yunle Caiwei, the chief eunuch and the old nanny beside the empress dowager.
Chu Heng's identity does not allow him to enter the harem, but the situation is different now. With Emperor Li Zihan around, he naturally has privileges.
He walked to Li Ziyan, glanced at the Queen Mother and Li Zihan sitting above, and knelt on the ground.
"What is General Chu doing?!" The Queen Mother was shocked. Her family also had loyal ministers and were rivals of those rebellious ministers. She also looked down upon those who were patriotic in name but selfish in reality, and she respected the Chu family even more.
Li Zihan frowned, let out a breath, and did not stop him.
"General Chu Heng, begs the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to grant me a marriage!"
"A marriage granted?!"
"I know that I am of low status and unworthy of Your Highness. I also know that I will never be able to live with Your Highness in this life. However, I still hope to marry Your Highness. I beg Your Majesty and Your Majesty to grant my blessing!"
Chu Heng knelt on the ground and knocked his head against the ground, with deep affection in his eyes that did not seem fake.
The empress dowager had seen that kind of look in the young emperor before. She looked at her son on the other side, who was already kneeling on the ground, with red eyes, holding Chu Heng's hand.
No one would remain indifferent to such a scene.
"Chu Heng, even if we agree, what can we do?"
"From the moment I was sure of my feelings, I decided that I would marry no one but Your Highness. I only ask the Emperor and the Queen Mother to give me a chance." Chu Heng held Li Ziyan's hand, his voice trembling. "No matter what the final result is, Chu Heng swears that if it succeeds, I will only have Your Highness for my whole life. If it fails, Chu Heng will never marry again!"
Chu Heng always keeps his word, and his eyes and tone reveal his seriousness.
Li Zihan was silent for a moment, nodded, and finally smiled, "You two, you two only know how to poke my heart. Yuanfu, go get some wine."
"promise."
The Empress Dowager's palace was fully equipped with supplies, and the small kitchen was stocked with medicinal wine, which Yuanfu quickly took over.
Li Zihan asked Yunle to hold the wine, and he pulled Li Ziyan to sit in front of the Queen Mother. "I am incompetent and cannot guarantee my brother's lifelong peace. Today, let me witness my brother's marriage."
"Royal brother..."
The others also understood what the emperor meant. Nanny Liu took out a comb and handed it to the empress dowager respectfully. She lowered her head, but her eyes were red. She was the wet nurse of two children. How could she not feel distressed when she saw them grow up?
She was a woman, uneducated, but was the emperor's position so good? These people only saw the glory of being an emperor, but who saw the suffering behind it?
"Your Majesty has been thinking about when you will get married. Now, it is finally complete." The Queen Mother was combing Li Ziyan's hair. A few gray hairs appeared among her black hair. Her hands were shaking, but she forced herself not to let her voice reveal a flaw. "Comb it through the hair once, and you will have no worries about wealth and honor. Comb it through the hair twice, and you will be free from illness and worries. Comb it through the hair three times, and you will have many children and a long life. Comb it through the hair again, and you will have your hands held high and your eyebrows even. Comb it through the hair twice, and you will fly together as a pair. Comb it through the hair three times, and you will be together forever..."
Live healthily and worry-free till old age, live long and be united in heart...
Does he still have a chance...
Li Ziyan lowered his eyebrows, his heart was filled with pain. He knew he should refuse. His life or death in the future was uncertain, so what was the point of dragging Chu Heng along? But he selfishly wanted to have such a relationship with Chu Heng, at least to prove that he had been there.
The perfect couple stood in the middle of the room. Li Ziyan's face was powdered, making her look less pale.
His hand was held in Chu Heng's, feeling each other's warm skin.
There were candles and incense burning, but no music and no formal attire. Two people, one was a prince who was second only to the emperor, and the other was a general with outstanding military achievements, could have had the most magnificent wedding, but at this moment, there were only five people who could witness their love.
"Bow to Heaven and Earth!"
Li Ziyan and Chu Heng knelt on the ground, facing the door and kowtowed.
"Bow to your parents twice!"
The Queen Mother sat on the couch, but she couldn't stop crying.
"Husband and wife bow to each other!"
"The ceremony is over!"
After Yuanfu finished explaining all the procedures, he couldn't help but tear up. Yunle, who was always smiling, also held back her tears and brought the wine to Li Ziyan and Chu Heng.
"Please, Your Majesty, have some wine."
Chu Heng's face was gentle as he handed the wine glass to Li Ziyan. The two of them clinked their cups together, like swans embracing each other.
It was clearly a happy event, but no one was happy. The Queen Mother felt a pang of anxiety as she watched her son leave. She felt as if this was... the last time they would see each other.
Chu Heng stayed in Li Ziyan's house until late at night, and left before dawn the next day. He returned to the training camp and secretly led his army to attack.
On the afternoon of the fifth day, the emperor issued an edict that Prince Xuansheng intended to rebel and colluded with his followers.
The Great Jin Dynasty had a reason to attack the southeast and also a reason to eliminate these treacherous ministers.
By the time the King of Southeast learned about this, Chu Heng had already reached the southeastern border and caught them off guard.
"Your Highness, please eat something. I'm worried about you." Yun Le was holding the milk porridge with red eyes. Ever since the general went to war, Li Ziyan's appetite has been getting worse and he has become very thin.
Those common people did not know the truth and ran to the gate of the palace, shouting and cursing all day long. If the emperor had not sent guards, they would have rushed in.
"Ahem, it's nothing, Yunle, don't worry."
"How can I not be worried? Woohoo, my lord, please eat something. I am worried about you!"
Li Ziyan looked at Yunle and felt a little bitter. He didn't tell Yunle and Caiwei that he had already found a place for them. There were many rules in the palace, and he didn't want them to be tired in the future, so he bought their slave status back and waited for him... until he could no longer protect them, they could live like ordinary people in the future.
"How many days has the general been gone?"
"Your Highness, it's been half a month."
"Only half a month..." But he felt as if it had been a year. Li Ziyan took out the jade pendant from his collar, rubbed it gently in his hand, tears in his eyes. He had said that he would give him a gift, but he never found the chance. He didn't know if he would be able to give it to him personally in the future.
"Yunle, I'm a little tired. Let's go out first."
"……promise."
Li Ziyan was the only one left in the dormitory. He coughed lightly a few times and looked at the red rope on his wrist.
This was the one Chu Heng put on his hand personally on the day of their wedding. Chu Heng also had one on his hand, which he had asked for in the temple. It was said that it could ensure safety and protect marriage.
The red string made the wrist look white. Li Ziyan lowered his head and placed a kiss on the red string. "I hope I can still wait for your triumphant return."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com