Chapter 30
The Duke of Protectorate's Mansion.
In the main hall, the eaves are very deep, casting the entire hall in shadow.
In the shadow, there was a man kneeling upright. After an incense stick of time had passed, he did not move at all, as if he was lost in his own memories.
The old Protector of the Country, Cui Bo, sat in front of him. Although he was past the age of knowing his own mistakes, his bearing was dignified and his demeanor was profound and majestic. Moreover, because he was once a military general, he exuded an awe-inspiring aura.
He tapped his fingertips on the table, making a clicking sound, as if he was urging someone to do something or was in deep thought.
But Cui Hu heard nothing. He was only thinking about the person on the other side of the door, who was waiting for him to save her.
Seeing his wandering eyes, the Duke of Protector of the Country knew what this useless guy was thinking, and he stopped and slammed his fingers on the table.
"You are so brave! You even abandoned your entire family for that little girl and brought in someone with the plague?"
Cui Hu naturally knew that what he did was wrong, and when he heard his father was angry, he fell to the ground.
"It's my fault! Father, please calm down."
The Duke of Huguo demanded, "You didn't agree to anything from the Yue family, did you? Now is a critical moment. His Majesty will ask you to escort the silver to Shuhu after the Double Ninth Festival. This is not the time to risk yourself!"
His father always regarded the emperor as the most important person. Although he had followed his father to learn how to march and fight for many years, he had not learned this.
Especially for the next crown prince who would succeed to the throne, he could not guarantee that he would be as truly loyal to Xiao Yan as his father was to the current emperor.
Seeing him lower his head, the Duke of Huguo knew that his words were harsh, but their Cui family did not get involved in party struggles. After he came back, he also wanted to choose a woman for him who would not fight or compete and would maintain the harem.
But his third son had just returned and had gotten involved with the Yue Shangshu family.
Minister Yue has always disliked the crown prince. If he really lets the third son marry a girl from the Yue family, wouldn't that mean he has chosen a side? Then when the crown prince ascends the throne, given his temper, he will never let the Yue family go, and he won't be able to completely trust the Cui family either. What will the Cui family do then?
After all, he is still young. When he grows older, he will know that nothing in this world is more important than the glory of the family. She is just a woman. It doesn't matter if he changes her. As long as she can give birth to children, it's enough. Why bother to pursue her heart so persistently?
The Duke of Huguo took a sip of tea and said slowly, "I have already selected two families for you. I am just waiting for you to come back and choose the one to marry into."
Before he could finish his words, Cui Hu knocked his head to the ground with a thud.
"Father, I only want Qingning. If it's not her, Ah Hu would rather never marry!"
Such a stubborn temper! I wonder who he got it from?
The Duke of Huguo was pissed off by him but he had no way to deal with it. If his son was in the house, he would have made the decision with just one word. Could he still send the girl back after marrying her into the family?
But this kid doesn't want to stay in the capital. If he is unhappy, he will take the girl from the Yue family back to Weidong. I really can't control him.
The Duke of Huguo finally managed to hold back his anger and speak to him seriously.
"The eldest daughter of the Yue family has lived in the capital since she was a child. Do you think she would follow you to the frontier and suffer in a foreign land? Even if she didn't follow you, could she manage this huge Protectorate Mansion in the capital?"
Cui Hu was about to retort, but the Duke of Huguo had already thought of stopping him before he could say anything.
"I heard she's still sickly! If you leave, she might not be able to handle the affairs of the mansion. Not to mention that you're thousands of miles away and we haven't seen each other for years. Do you really not regret it for a moment?"
"Third brother, perhaps you still cherish this delicate beauty at the moment, but as time goes by, no matter how beautiful it is, it will not last forever! Can you guarantee that you will still treat her the same way you treat her today in the future?"
The two consecutive questions hit the most vital points. Cui Hu calmed down and thought carefully about his father's words.
Seeing his hesitation, the Duke of Protectorate knew that his son was not the kind of foolish person who was obsessed with beauty, and he would naturally think it through.
Love is worthless in the face of time.
Finally, Cui Hu thought for a while and raised his head. The old Duke Protector of the Country stood up, helped him up and patted him on the shoulder.
"Okay! Just think it over! The girls from those two families..."
"I want Qingning!"
The old Duke of Protectorate was so shocked by the words he heard right next to his ear that it took him a while to understand that this unfilial son was still thinking about Yue Qingning!
"I won't allow it! Didn't you hear what I just said?"
Cui Hu naturally understood what his father meant. His father was afraid that he would be impulsive due to his youthful vigor, and he was also afraid that he would look down on the girl over time and cause a lifelong resentment.
But he knows what he wants and what responsibilities he should bear.
Qingning is a girl who grew up in the capital. She was raised under protection since childhood and is naturally different from him. He knows clearly what he should do and he will give her a choice.
If she wanted to stay in the capital, he would come back often to help take care of her and find someone to teach her how to manage the household.
If she wanted to go with him, he would give her the best even at the frontier. They were truly in love with each other and he didn't believe that he was the same as other men in the world.
She is all he needs in this life!
Moreover, he believed that a girl who could speak of saving the people and being ready to die for them was different from other women. Qingning and he were both different kinds of people in the world. Being together was a match made in heaven. Why should other people get involved?
"Father, even if I tell you how different Qingning is, you won't believe me. I will only talk about myself!"
He raised his head, his eyes burning with determination to win on the battlefield.
"I know what responsibilities I have, and I'm ready! Even if we ever have conflicts in the future, I won't regret it!"
The Duke of Protectorate was so choked by his true feelings that he couldn't utter a single word.
His eldest son died unmarried and without a child. His second son married early but fathered only a daughter before dying in battle. He held his two remaining sons in his arms, wishing he could personally chart a clear course for their futures.
To this day, not everything goes as he wishes. After all, they are still young and don't know how dangerous the waves surging under the court are. If they get on the wrong boat, they will never be able to get off again.
The Duke of Huguo sighed deeply, "You know... Minister Yue is a member of the faction that opposes the Crown Prince. If you marry the daughter of the Yue family, you will probably never be able to climb up in this lifetime!"
Cui Hu understood the conflict of interests behind this and nodded.
"I know! Perhaps Uncle Yue and I are no different..."
What he meant was obvious: he also did not want to see Xiao Yan become emperor.
The Duke of Protector of the Country shook his head and staggered back to his seat. Since the previous generation, their Cui family had stopped interfering in the fights among the princes, so as to preserve the reputation of the Duke of Protector of the Country.
He also knew why the third brother disliked Xiao Yan so much. Xiao Yan was half a foreign prince and acted arrogantly and tyrannically. If he succeeded to the throne, the world would probably have no good days.
But he thought too simply. Even if the Duke of Huguo's Mansion got involved, it might not be able to shake Prince Xiao Yan's position.
In the end, it all depends on the emperor's will. Whoever the emperor supports can be made the crown prince, even if he is useless. Whoever the emperor does not support can still be reduced in power even if the whole court recommends him.
The key now is that it is difficult to understand what the emperor means. At least on the surface, the emperor is still on Xiao Yan's side.
Cui Hu also knew that his father was worried, so he stepped forward and told his father what had happened in the past few days, and also told his father that His Royal Highness Prince Shou was trying to show goodwill to him.
"You said that Prince Shou is now in the emperor's favor?"
The Duke of Huguo didn't know that Prince Shou had come out, and he clicked his tongue.
"This is really... I thought His Majesty was really going to pass the throne to Xiao Yan, but I didn't expect Prince Shou to show up!"
Cui Hu said from the side, "It is precisely because of this that His Highness Prince Shou and I have had a few conversations. I believe that His Highness is not as ignorant of state affairs as the rumors say, and it is clear that someone has been teaching him over the years. His Highness speaks with profound knowledge and behaves with a sense of balance. He is a candidate worthy of support for the Crown Prince."
So... you can really give it a try!
Although the Duke of Protectorate said that no matter who becomes the emperor, the Cui family must be loyal, patriotic and loyal to the new emperor, deep down he actually does not want people of different races to hold power.
Moreover, what the third brother is asked to escort this time is the silver from his own country. This money can be spent anywhere, but how can it be justified to use it on foreigners!
He was also secretly holding back his anger and couldn't let it out.
"Even so, Prince Shou and the Crown Prince can't compare! Even if you have the intention, you can't be too conspicuous now."
Having said that, he must have finally let go. Cui Hu sighed and said "yes" silently.
Ultimately, the Duke of Protectorate was still thinking about his own son, and ultimately it was for their future. Seeing how persistent he was, the Emperor's will began to change, and the situation before them was changing rapidly.
Thinking about this, his attitude towards the Yue girl also relaxed.
"Anyway, let's carry out His Majesty's order first. When you return from Shuhu, I'll see how the situation develops before we discuss the matter of marriage!"
When Cui Hu heard that his father was finally willing to consider Qingning, he smiled so much that his mouth almost reached his ears.
"Yes! I will listen to my father!"
How could I listen to him? I didn't see him obeying me even though I told him not to marry the girl from the Yue family!
The Duke of Protectorate glanced at him and said unhappily.
"I haven't agreed to it! If Prince Shou hasn't gained power by then, I won't agree to your marriage."
Cui Hu agreed repeatedly and respectfully offered his father another cup of tea.
As long as his father's attitude softens, he can turn this 10% chance into 100%, and he will definitely marry Qingning!
The two of them were chatting for a while when a notification suddenly came from the front of the hospital.
The father and son stood up in surprise to greet him, but they didn't expect that the visitor was the Prince Shou whom they had just talked about.
He was casually dressed in a moon-white round-collar robe, with a faint smile on his face. The Duke of Huguo did not expect that His Royal Highness Prince Shou would be so graceful. At a glance, he already had a 60% favorable impression of him.
When the man came closer, the Duke of Huguo was about to bow down, but Prince Shou immediately helped him up.
"The Duke of Protectorate is embarrassing the younger generation!"
Being so humble and polite, my favorable impression of him instantly increased by two points.
When Prince Shou faced the domineering Crown Prince, it seemed that this Prince was the real prince. In comparison, the Crown Prince looked like a wild king from a barbarian country.
Thinking of this, I almost praised the Prince Shou, whom I had just met, to the utmost.
Prince Shou saw that the Duke of Protectorate was staring at him on parade with a look of satisfaction in his eyes, and spoke with amusement.
"It's all my fault for staying cooped up in my mansion. I never came out once, and I didn't get to meet the old general, the Protector of the Country! I've always heard of his elegance, but after meeting him this time, I was surprised to find that his demeanor is still as impressive as it was back then!"
The Duke of Huguo didn't expect that Prince Shou was still aware of his past experiences, and asked out of curiosity.
Prince Shou smiled faintly, "Back in the Liaodong battlefield, the old general defeated Goguryeo with one hundred men and won fame in one battle. Although I was young at the time, I still remember clearly the grand scene when the battle report came back, and the streets of the capital were deserted!"
"The general's achievements will be praised by future generations even after thousands of years. Ah Heng admires him immensely!"
Although most of his life has passed, who can resist being reminded of his former glory, especially when praised by the prince?
Upon hearing this, the Duke of Huguo's mouth became a crescent moon, and his impression of Prince Shou became even better.
As Prince Shou entered the front hall, the Duke of Huguo smiled and completely forgot what he had just said to his son. Prince Shou turned around silently and glanced at Cui Hu, obviously having something to say.
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