Actually, it's not confirmed yet.
Xuanyuan Ye didn't know what he was thinking.
The day of the talent show is fast approaching, and all the young ladies from various families will be sending their daughters in.
He should naturally choose carefully a young lady who is worthy of being an empress, whose status, character, and etiquette must all be outstanding. Moreover, this young lady's family must also be powerful in the court.
That was his original plan.
However, once Jiang Tian came into his life, he found himself feeling resistant to her.
It was as if a premonition was telling him that if other people really entered the palace, Jiang Tian's heart would drift further and further away from him.
This keen intuition had saved him countless times.
Xuanyuan Ye had no choice but to believe it.
He, who was usually decisive and efficient, hesitated on this matter.
That's why he delayed, wanting to confirm Jiang Tian's identity first.
"emperor?"
Seeing that he hadn't replied for a long time, Jiang Tian asked again.
"Not yet, we need to choose carefully," Xuan Yuan Ye replied somewhat hastily.
We need to choose carefully.
When officials sent their daughters to the palace, it was a way of expressing their attitude towards the emperor. He needed these concubines to win over the hearts of his officials, and the officials also needed the concubines in the harem to glorify their families.
This was originally an exchange of interests.
He shouldn't let a woman cloud his judgment.
"Then Your Majesty should choose an Empress first, and then I will decide on this matter."
Xuanyuan Ye frowned, somewhat puzzled: "Why?"
"From now on, I will be working under the Empress. If her status clashes with mine in any way, I will suffer the consequences. Your Majesty, please grant me this one request."
She's just that smart.
Xuanyuan Ye was displeased by her statement that she wanted to make a living under the Empress's command.
She was the woman he loved, so naturally he would protect her.
She doesn't need to earn a living from anyone.
However, when he said this, Jiang Tian smiled helplessly: "Your Majesty, please don't talk nonsense. You and I both came from the palace. Do you not understand or do I not understand? There are countless dangers in the harem. Countless women have been drowned by a single wrong step. You have some favor for me now, but what about in the future?"
"Please don't blame me for being too blunt, but people's hearts are the hardest to control. Since you saved my life and I agreed to stay, I naturally have to find a good path for myself."
She was practically telling Xuan Yuan Ye that she didn't believe he truly loved her, nor did she believe he could protect her for long. Her decision to stay to repay a debt of gratitude didn't mean she would place all her bets on Xuan Yuan Ye.
See? That's just how she is.
Xuanyuan Ye had long understood her nature; she could survive anywhere, seemingly easygoing on the surface, but in reality, she was the coldest and most ruthless.
He puts himself first in everything, never letting himself suffer, but he also won't let him have an easy time.
He didn't speak, and Jiang Tian wisely kept quiet as well.
Qin Shaoqing was caught in the middle and wished he could plug his ears.
He knew too little about Jiang Tian.
He never really paid much attention to a princess, especially a symbolic one.
Now it seems... she was incredibly clever.
Didn't you see how angry the Emperor was, yet he didn't dare say a single harsh word?
She was entirely thinking of herself, but she also frankly revealed her thoughts to the emperor.
The emperor would only reflect on why he couldn't gain her wholehearted trust, but he wouldn't blame her for being so paranoid. Instead, he would feel more pity for her.
It's no wonder that a princess whose kingdom is on the verge of collapse could survive in the deep palace with such plans.
Qin Shaoqing believed that Jiang Tian was unfathomable.
In the end, it was Xuanyuan Ye who came to his senses first. He turned to Qin Shaoqing and said, "You should go back first. We can discuss this another day."
As expected, the Emperor conceded.
Qin Shaoqing sighed inwardly, but he quickly and tactfully bowed and left.
After he left, Xuanyuan Ye did not continue the topic of the Empress, but brought up another matter.
"Your younger brother couldn't hold back any longer. He wanted to find a righteous pretext to send troops to Zhao. He thought his army was strong and capable of fighting, but little did he know that I had already seen through his tricks and was just waiting to lure him into a trap."
"You are his primary excuse. A princess of one country, if she were to die tragically in the palace of another, he would have ample reason to seek justice for his sister. I originally intended to tolerate him a little longer, but now it seems there's no need to."
Xuan Yuan Ye was already furious after repeatedly trying to harm Jiang Tian.
"It won't be long before I send troops out. When that happens, I will send you to Qin Shaoqing's residence to stay for a while."
Having observed for so long, Xuan Yuan Ye had long since realized that Qin Shao Qing truly had no romantic feelings for Jiang Tian.
There are dangers everywhere in the palace; it would be better to move Jiang Tian out first.
"Everything is up to His Majesty's arrangement."
Xuanyuan Ye remained silent for a while before carefully speaking, "...I will reconsider the matter of the Empress. Rest assured, the Empress I have chosen will certainly not harm you. If she does not protect you, then she has no reason to be the Empress."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
She said that, but her expression remained very calm.
She was just giving me the runaround.
Xuanyuan Ye gazed intently at her: "You don't trust me."
"Your Majesty is too kind," Jiang Tian said, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Your Majesty's kindness to me is evident to all."
Xuanyuan Ye didn't want to waste any more words with her in the outer room. He carried her into the inner room, lowered the curtains, and in the space where only the two of them were, he stared intently at Jiang Tian: "Tell me, what kind of husband do you want to find?"
He had never asked Jiang Tian this question before.
Because he never considered that one day he wouldn't be able to win her heart.
The more he understood her temperament, the deeper the panic in Xuanyuan Ye's heart became.
He could even imagine that Jiang Tian could spend her whole life in the deep palace, and could even wear a mask and be loving with him for a lifetime.
But she would never fall in love with him.
This realization pierced Xuan Yuan Ye's heart, causing it to bleed profusely.
But he had to admit that Jiang Tian was that kind of person.
So he wanted to ask her what kind of person she liked.
Jiang Tian lay on her back, looking into his eyes: "It seems that Your Majesty still wants to hear the truth this time."
She was so beautiful, with exquisite features and captivating almond-shaped eyes. As she gazed at him, it was as if he were her only one.
Being stared at like that, how many men wouldn't want to possess her?
"Of course we should listen to the truth."
He had heard so many lies that he could only hear a few truths when he was pressed for answers.
“I know that Your Majesty is a wise and benevolent ruler throughout the ages, and that the people praise you. But the ideal husband in my heart is different from you.”
Xuan Yuan Ye's chest tightened: "What's the difference?"
Jiang Tian looked directly at him and smiled: "What I want is a lifelong, monogamous relationship, which the Emperor cannot give."
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