After drinking a cup of wine, Consort Gao spoke up: "Your Majesty the Empress, the Third Prince is getting on in years. When does Your Majesty plan to arrange his marriage?"
The Empress replied, "Yuan Cheng is honest and straightforward, so I need to carefully consider the selection of a Crown Prince's consort."
The Empress had discussed the selection of a princess consort with the Third Prince quite a bit beforehand.
Each time, Yuan Cheng used various excuses to push them away.
Either the girls in this family aren't pretty enough.
She's either too beautiful, or she has an unfavorable appearance.
The Third Prince always had an excuse when the Empress chose someone.
As a result, it was delayed again and again.
"The Third Prince is the Empress's own son, so it is only right that the Empress is cautious."
Consort Gao changed the subject, "But since the Third Prince has not yet made a decision, his younger brothers cannot overstep their bounds, can they?"
The Empress said with displeasure, "A prince's marriage is a major event; how can it be rushed?"
Consort Gao smiled and nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty the Empress is right."
“In that case, tomorrow I will go to His Majesty to ask for a decree so that the Third Prince can take his time to choose and let his younger brothers get married first.”
"How can this be allowed?" the Empress retorted without even thinking. "Since ancient times, there has been an order of seniority. Wouldn't this disrupt the proper order?"
Consort Gao said aggrievedly, "Your Majesty, this won't work, that won't work, but we can't let the princes all remain bachelors if the Third Prince doesn't get married."
Knowing she was in the wrong, the Empress said, "Don't worry, I'm already observing the candidates for the Third Prince's consort."
"I wonder how long Your Majesty intends to observe? Please give me a definite timeframe."
Although the Empress was puzzled as to why Consort Gao was pressing her so hard, Yuan Cheng's marriage could not be delayed any longer.
"During this hunt, I thought I would choose someone I like and arrange a marriage for the Third Prince."
Consort Gao's goal was achieved. "Then this concubine congratulates Your Majesty the Empress in advance on the arrival of your noble daughter-in-law."
Yan Xinyue, sitting below, watched the Empress and Consort Gao chatting away, and she was quite curious.
"Why is the Imperial Concubine in such a hurry about the Third Prince's marriage?"
Yan Xinyue added, "Even if the Third Prince is not engaged, the Imperial Concubine can still choose a noble lady for the Fourth Prince."
Once the engagement is agreed upon, the wedding date can be discussed later.
Pei Zhi said, "Perhaps it's because Consort Gao is the Third Prince's stepmother that she's worried about this."
Yan Xinyue looked at Pei Zhi as if she were crazy, "Did you hit your head and become stupid? What kind of ridiculous joke are you telling?"
Consort Gao is worried about the Third Prince?
She must think Consort Gao wished the Third Prince would die suddenly, right?
Pei Zhi held her chopsticks and ate her food with her head down, ignoring Yan Xinyue.
Thinking about Pei Zhi's words and imagining Consort Gao showing concern for the Third Prince, Yan Xinyue couldn't help but shiver.
After the banquet, the Empress instructed her maid to bring the Third Prince over.
The Third Prince is already twenty years old this year; after his birthday, he will be twenty-one.
It's really outrageous that a prince of this age is still unmarried.
Emperor Pei had previously mentioned to the Empress that if she had a suitable candidate, he would grant her a marriage.
However, the Third Prince was always picky and never found a suitable candidate.
As soon as the Third Prince sat down, the Empress brought up the matter of choosing a prince's consort.
The Third Prince frowned slightly. "I wonder who Mother has chosen?"
“Your maternal cousin is a distant relative. Her father is a third-rank official who works in another province, and her elder brother is a newly promoted Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) this year.”
Before the Third Prince could speak, the Empress continued, "I saw that girl tonight. She is outstanding in appearance, well-educated and reasonable. She is a good candidate."
"Didn't I already say that? She..."
"Shut up!" The Empress slammed her hand on the back of her chair and angrily rebuked, "I am no longer willing to listen to your excuses. I summoned you here today not to discuss anything with you, but because I have already chosen the person. You have no choice but to agree."
The third prince showed a moment of resentment, "Your subject does not wish to marry her."
The Empress asked in confusion, "You don't already have someone you like, do you?"
The third prince was momentarily flustered, his eyes darting around unnaturally, and he dared not meet the empress's gaze.
Judging from the Third Prince's expression, the Empress knew what was going on.
"You marry her. Then, the Empress Dowager will allow you to elevate the woman you love to the rank of concubine. What do you say?"
The third prince looked up at his mother, and after a long while, he nodded in agreement.
"Since Mother has already chosen the candidate, why ask your son?"
Hearing the Third Prince's obviously defiant words, the Empress sighed.
“Yuan Cheng, your father has already inquired about this before. Now, Consort Gao is pressing you step by step, and you will have to get married sooner or later.”
The Empress earnestly advised, "The most important thing is to get married as soon as possible and give birth to a grandson of the Emperor."
The third prince nodded sullenly, and the empress asked him a couple more questions about his studies.
The third prince then made an excuse to take his leave.
The Empress sighed softly, "Go back and ask the people in the Prince's residence if any woman in Yuan Cheng's household has bewitched him."
The Empress believed that the Third Prince was unwilling to marry because a cunning woman had managed to keep him under her control.
It's normal for a man to be temporarily infatuated with a woman.
But the Empress could not let this situation go unchecked.
"That's not true. There are only two concubines in the prince's residence, the same two that Her Majesty arranged beforehand."
The Empress frowned. "Those two who drank the infertility drug?"
The old woman said, "Yes, after that, the Prince's residence never added any more people."
The Empress had her doubts, but her personal nanny said, "The Third Prince works hard. Every day after returning to the mansion, he studies diligently in the study and often stays there overnight."
The Empress sighed and said, "Even so, I haven't seen him make much progress in his studies."
"The Third Prince is already very ambitious, Your Highness, please don't push him too hard."
The third prince returned to his tent, feeling depressed, and kicked over the table.
The teapot and water cups on the table were all spilled on the floor.
The Third Prince was naturally unwilling to get married, and he had his guards deflower the two concubines in his household.
No matter what, the Third Prince knew that the Princess Consort could not be slept with by the guards.
The thought of him touching women made the Third Prince feel disgusted.
It seems the Empress Dowager is determined to arrange a marriage for him; there's no point in him making excuses anymore.
The Third Prince sighed inwardly. It was truly impossible. On the day of his wedding, he would have no choice but to administer some potent drugs to himself.
Only when the matter is successfully completed can this hurdle be considered overcome.
The Empress was quick and efficient. After discussing the matter with the Third Prince, she went to Emperor Pei the next day to ask for the imperial decree to grant her the marriage.
When Emperor Pei learned that the chosen woman was the Empress's niece, he was not surprised. He simply said that he would issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage after the hunt ended and they returned to the palace.
Today, Yan Xinyue and Pei Yuan rode horses into the forest to search for prey.
Pei Zhi found a shady spot to fish and pass the time.
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