In particular, the officials who were reporting to the envoy of the Northern Kingdom to the Great Yong Kingdom, who would soon arrive in the capital, were trembling with fear, thinking that they had done something wrong and angered His Majesty.
Losing one's official position is a small matter; losing one's head is a much bigger one.
Just as the official was about to kneel down and beg for forgiveness, he heard the emperor issue an edict: Princess Fengxi would be married off to the northern desert.
…
The northern desert is a harsh and cold land, inhabited by nomadic peoples. The men are mostly rugged and the people are fierce. How can they compare to the elegant and refined people of Dayong?
Although Dayong and Mobei were on good terms, and princesses were sent to the grasslands from time to time to show the alliance between the two countries, they were always the unfavored princesses.
Jun Yuanyao never imagined that the matter of a political marriage would fall on her shoulders!
Her heart sank.
It was obvious that his elder brother had overheard what he said in the study of the top scholar's residence!
My brother is... punishing her!
My brother is truly heartless!
Could it be that she, a princess, is less important to him than a mere subject?
She actually treated her like this because of Mu Xiange!
Now, Jun Yuanyao even harbored a subtle hatred for Qin Ge!
She was inherently selfish, so when someone threatened her interests, her little bit of admiration meant nothing.
Jun Yuanyao was naturally unwilling to marry into the grasslands. Even if she didn't marry, she could still keep male concubines and was a respected princess in Dayong. If she were to be married off to the northern desert, where would she find her carefree and happy life now?
I've heard that there's a bad custom in the northern deserts where the son inherits the wife's position after the father dies. A princess who marries into the northern deserts may never be able to return to her homeland for the rest of her life.
She doesn't want to!
She absolutely refuses!
Jun Yuanyao shuddered.
She submitted her petition to the palace, requesting an audience with Empress Dowager Cixi.
My elder brother is a domineering man. If there is anyone in this world who can speak for him, it is only the Empress Dowager.
Upon entering the palace, Jun Yuanyao knelt prostrate beside Empress Dowager Cixi, abandoning her pride and dignity as a princess, pleading, "Mother, save me! Ayao doesn't want to be married off to the northern desert for a political alliance..."
Empress Dowager Cixi was the Empress during the reign of the late Emperor. She was plotted against by Consort Shentu and remained childless for the rest of her life. Princess Fengxi was not her biological daughter, but according to the rules of the palace, she was addressed as the Empress Dowager as her legal mother.
Empress Dowager Cixi was devoted to Buddhism and spent most of her time in solitary meditation. She would not have returned to the palace if it were not for her birthday.
Although she wasn't particularly close to Jun Yuanyao, Empress Dowager Cixi was known for her kind heart. She slowly fiddled with the 108 tourmaline beads, patiently listening to Jun Yuanyao's sobbing complaints.
Finally, Empress Dowager Cixi said, "Fengxi, please get up. As for the Emperor... I will explain things to him on your behalf."
Jun Yuanyao placed all her hopes on Empress Dowager Cixi.
—Back then, Consort Shentu was the emperor's favorite, and she killed almost all of the late emperor's children. Only a few princesses remained in the harem. The emperor's elder brother was born to a palace maid. She was secretly born to that maid, disguised as a girl, and hidden in the cold palace, which allowed him to grow up safely. Later, when the late emperor fell seriously ill and there was no successor for the Great Yong Dynasty, it was the current Empress Dowager Cixi who took the emperor's elder brother out of the cold palace, recognized him as her son, and he eventually inherited the throne.
Empress Dowager Cixi had shown great kindness to the Emperor's elder brother.
If it weren't for Empress Dowager Cixi, my elder brother wouldn't have been able to sit on the throne.
I'm sure my brother will heed some of what Empress Dowager Cixi said.
But to be honest, Jun Yuanyao felt a bit resentful and unwilling.
In the past, during the chaos caused by the wicked concubine who brought ruin to the country, she was a princess and could not stand in the way of Consort Shentu. Although her birth mother died in childbirth, her maternal clan was quite powerful. In addition, her father had no other children and pitied her mother for being harmed by Consort Shentu and losing her at a young age. Whether out of a desire to make amends or out of guilt, he couldn't help but show her some favor.
She was once the emperor's most beloved princess.
A new emperor brings a new court, and now they've been reduced to the point of being sent to the northern desert for a political marriage!
My elder brother is nothing more than the son of a mere palace maid!
Now, however, they hold her fate in their hands.
Jun Yuanyao concealed the resentment in her eyes, curtsied, and withdrew.
…
After the court session ended, Eunuch Xia stopped Qin Ge, saying, "Scholar Qin, please wait, His Majesty requests your presence."
Other officials were not surprised.
The top scholar often went to the Dragon Palace to organize and read memorials for His Majesty.
His Majesty's favor towards the top scholar is already evident to all.
But I wouldn't be too envious or jealous.
After all, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; not everyone has the ability to serve His Majesty for a long time.
Of course, Qin Ge herself wouldn't be so naive as to think that the tyrant summoned her to the Dragon Palace just to accompany him in reviewing memorials.
But after thinking about it, he still left in a light robe and with elegant steps.
After walking for a long time, we finally arrived at the Dragon Palace.
When Qin Ge arrived, Jun Chenbi had changed out of his heavy and elaborate court robes and crown. His black hair hung down his back, and his black clothes were as luxurious as feathers. He sat behind a desk piled with memorials.
In the past, when the emperor summoned a Hanlin scholar to serve him, he still knew to avoid suspicion, at least reviewing memorials in the imperial study. Now, he has summoned him directly to the imperial bedchamber, and apart from Eunuch Xia and his confidants, there is no one else around. It's as clear as day...
Jun Chenbi raised his eyes, his phoenix eyes falling on the young man. He beckoned to him and said in a lazy tone, "My dear minister, come here."
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