Chapter 416 Emperor Renxiao bestows marriage upon Zhou Ruyuan and Bai Qingling!
When the two arrived, there were already people in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Several high-ranking officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel were present.
"Father!"
"uncle!"
Emperor Renxiao turned around, his face appearing strangely rosy against the backdrop of his ink-black hair.
"Only the two of you are missing," Emperor Renxiao said with a smile.
Shen Lanxi: "Your Majesty, I rushed here immediately after receiving the imperial edict."
Zhou Ruyuan also wanted to explain, but Emperor Renxiao smiled and waved his hand, saying indifferently, "I specifically asked them to call you over later."
Shen Lanxi: "Your Majesty is wise. There must be a reason for doing this."
Emperor Renxiao nodded with a smile; Lanxi had won his heart.
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of the Fifth Prince, but the court is in turmoil. We cannot abandon the millions of people of the Great Zhou just because of the loss of a prince!"
"Your Majesty's benevolence is a blessing to all the people under heaven!"
The ministers echoed his sentiments.
Emperor Renxiao put away his smile and solemnly said, "I have made such arrangements. All ministers, please accept the decree."
Everyone in the Hall of Mental Cultivation knelt down to receive the imperial decree.
"The Fifth Prince is my beloved son. I am deeply gratified that he came to serve me when he learned that I was unwell."
"In principle, he should be buried in his fiefdom after his death, but Xihua Prefecture is far from the capital. I cannot bear to see my fifth son suffer such a long journey, so I have specially ordered the third prince to take the older princes to bring the fifth prince back!"
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes darkened, and he suddenly clenched his fist.
"As for the troops escorting the Fifth Prince, Shen Lanxi and the Ministry of War will take them in. They will be temporarily incorporated into the Imperial Guard; further arrangements will be made later."
"I have already sent word to Xihua Prefecture that the Fifth Prince's family will be arriving in the capital soon. Ruyuan, you will be in charge of making arrangements for them."
Zhou Ruyuan accepted the order.
Afterwards, Emperor Renxiao dismissed everyone, leaving only Zhou Ruyuan.
Since he wasn't given the task of receiving the troops, he naturally needed to be appeased.
"Ruyuan, I have kept you behind alone because I have something important to tell you."
A flash of mockery crossed Zhou Ruyuan's eyes. What could be more important than receiving 200,000 troops?
Does Father Emperor still think he's as easy to fool as before?
"The fiefdom of Xihua Prefecture is barren and cannot possibly support 200,000 troops. I want you to secretly investigate where Zhou Yunhao's troops came from." Emperor Renxiao's face was already full of gloom as he said this.
If he finds out there are other connections involved, he will definitely take this opportunity to expose them all and wipe them out.
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes flickered; this was indeed a decent job.
But compared to the tangible benefits of spending 200,000, it's nothing.
"Father, I will certainly complete the task you have entrusted to me."
Emperor Renxiao recalled what Consort Shu had said yesterday, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Ruyuan, I've heard that you've been getting quite close to the daughter of the Vice Minister of War lately?"
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes widened slowly: "Father, I have only met the young lady from the Vice Minister's family by chance a few times, and we are not very familiar with each other."
Emperor Renxiao sighed: "I thought you were finally going to have a choice for your principal wife, but it turns out it was just a coincidence."
Zhou Ruyuan's heart sank, and he said respectfully, "Your Majesty was unwell before, so I had no mind to care about those things."
Emperor Renxiao said in a caring tone, "Among all the princes, you have the fewest offspring in your harem. You don't even have a legitimate son yet. I have neglected you."
Zhou Ruyuan hurriedly said, "It is your son who has caused Father Emperor worry."
Emperor Renxiao, like an old father who finally gave in to his son, said meaningfully, "I had been preventing you from being with that woman before because she was not worthy of you."
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes flickered, and he suddenly had a bad feeling.
"My son, I have experienced several bouts of illness and have come to a clear understanding. Since you and that woman are in love, I am willing to grant you marriage to her."
Zhou Ruyuan's expression changed drastically. His father knew Bai Qingling's status and position, yet he still bestowed the marriage upon her. Was this for his own good?
"My son, I've seen how you pleaded for that woman several times before. I know you have deep feelings for her and are deeply in love with her. I've come to terms with it now and will no longer force you!"
After hearing this, Zhou Ruyuan felt like he had shot himself in the foot. He finally understood what it meant to be a mute eating bitter melon, unable to express the bitterness.
It's all because he was blinded by greed before.
"Father, Bai Qingling and I..."
Before Zhou Ruyuan could finish speaking, Emperor Renxiao raised his hand to interrupt him.
"I have already ordered people to investigate. Bai Qingling has been with you in the army, strategizing for you. If she weren't a woman, she would already be a high-ranking military officer."
Zhou Ruyuan pursed his lips tightly, because he had pleaded for Bai Qingling's life with his father several times before.
If he refuses to accept Bai Qingling now, his father will surely think he is heartless, ungrateful, and unfaithful.
"Now that Shen Lanxi has broken the precedent, I hereby appoint Bai Qingling as your deputy general in the army. In this way, she can be considered worthy of you!"
Emperor Renxiao outwardly appeared to be thinking of his son's best interests, but Zhou Ruyuan had his own unspoken grievances.
When Bai Qingling brought Mr. Caolu back before, he had already promised to let Bai Qingling enter the mansion as a concubine.
Now that his father had bestowed the marriage upon him, Zhou Ruyuan felt heavy-hearted, his body slumping.
"My son has finally gotten what he wanted, so why do you look unhappy?" Emperor Renxiao asked with a smile.
How could Zhou Ruyuan dare to say that he already had someone in mind for his principal wife, how could he dare to say that his feelings for Bai Qingling were not as strong as before, how could he dare to say that?
Even if you had these thoughts before, you can't say them out loud now.
"Your subject is delighted."
Emperor Renxiao laughed and said, "Hurry back and prepare. I have already sent the child you had with Bai Qingling to your mother."
"She lost her child, which is a time when she is both emotionally and physically distressed. Having a child with her at this time will probably help her get over it more quickly."
Zhou Ruyuan, holding the imperial edict in his hand, walked out of the palace in a daze.
Is the wedding being arranged in such a rush to shut him up?
Two hundred thousand soldiers were exchanged for an imperial edict and a principal wife. Zhou Ruyuan felt that his heart was more bitter than swallowing bitter herbs.
No one knows who spread the rumor, but the news that Zhou Ruyuan was going to marry his principal wife spread as soon as he returned to the palace.
Several versions have emerged, the most convincing of which is that Zhou Ruyuan used his military achievements to marry Bai Qingling.
Shen Lanxi never expected to hear such excitement before setting off.
"My lord, Miss Yuan Tang entered the Shen residence crying; she must be looking for the princess."
Shen Lanxi: "What do you want with Mother? To persuade His Majesty to rescind the imperial decree and make her the principal wife?"
"I don't know what the Prince of Zhennan was thinking. Why would he use his military achievements to ask for a woman like that in marriage? Military achievements are so hard to come by."
Shen Lanxi's eyes shone like stars, and her words carried a calm and composed air of someone in complete control.
"He's probably been tricked by his good father!"
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