The Fourth Prince suddenly asked for marriage excitedly, which surprised Emperor Tianwu. Although he didn't like his Fourth Son competing with his beloved Eighth Son for a wife, he still asked curiously, "Why do you want to marry that girl? And you promised her to be your principal wife. Do you know the rule that concubines can't be the principal wives of princes?"
The Fourth Prince bowed his head to the ground and said, "I know, but I am just a prince who has been stripped of his throne. I only have a Prince Ping Palace. I don't participate in government affairs and I don't enjoy the honor of a prince. So I think that my wife, a concubine, is enough. What's more, I have been learning embroidery from the Third Miss of the Feng family for so many years, and I have really developed feelings for her. I have long made up my mind to marry her, and I beg your Majesty to grant my wish."
"You want to marry her?" Emperor Tianwu suddenly became furious. "You mean, you want to marry your eighth brother's concubine?"
"Father! She is not my eighth brother's concubine yet!" The fourth prince was determined to go against Emperor Tianwu today. He almost summoned up the courage he had when he forced Emperor Tianwu to abdicate with Xuan Tianye. He even said to the eighth prince Xuan Tianmo, "Eighth brother, since you want to marry the third lady of the Feng family, you should at least ask her opinion, right?"
Finally, someone was able to take Xiangrong into consideration. Feng Yuheng whispered to Xiangrong beside him, "Compared to the Eighth Old Man, the Fourth Old Man is still reliable."
However, Rong didn't care whether it was reliable or not. Her whole body was shaking with fear and anger. Her two little fists were clenched so tightly that her nails made her palms bleed.
"How dare you!" Emperor Tianwu was furious. "When did I agree to the Eighth Brother? How come it was your turn to interfere? How come she is not the Eighth Brother's concubine? What I say is true, Fourth Brother. You forced the emperor to abdicate in the early years, and I spared your life. Now, not only do you not repent, but you also disobey my wishes in public and snatch your brother's wife. I can see that you have no brotherly love and no blood relationship in your heart. If your Eighth Brother hadn't mentioned this matter today, you would have said nothing. But as soon as your Eighth Brother mentioned it, you knelt down and asked for that woman. Fourth Brother, you are deliberately going against your Eighth Brother and me!"
"Father! I don't! I really like the Third Miss of the Feng Family!" Xuan Tianyi was speechless. He didn't care who he was against or who misunderstood him. He was just anxious. If he didn't fight for it, Xiangrong would be assigned to the Eighth Prince by the Emperor! That was absolutely not possible. Xiangrong could marry her, or she could follow her own heart and marry the Seventh Prince, or an ordinary person. As long as he treated her well, it would be fine. But the Eighth Prince wouldn't do that! He knew very well why the Eighth Prince wanted to marry him. If he just watched Xiangrong being promised the marriage, wouldn't that be like watching Xiangrong jump into the fire pit? Xuan Tianyi was so anxious that he couldn't do anything. He kept kowtowing to Emperor Tianwu and said loudly: "Father, please help me! As long as you help me, I would rather not have the Prince Ping's Mansion or the prince's dignity. I am willing to be just an ordinary person. I only ask for your help!"
"Okay!" Emperor Tianwu slapped the handle of the dragon throne and said angrily, "If you want to be a commoner, I will grant you your wish. Even if you want to die, I can grant you your wish. But if you want to compete with your eighth brother for a wife, it is absolutely impossible!"
"Father!" Emperor Tianwu's words plunged Xuan Tianyi into despair. He looked up at the father sitting on the dragon throne who was reluctant to kill his son even when he forced him to abdicate. At this moment, he felt very strange. It was as if they had never met before. He was just a powerful stranger, so strange that there was no emotion left.
Xuan Tianmo, who was standing aside, watched all this with cold eyes, his eyes showing the joy of victory. He stepped forward and said, "Father, calm down. Your health is more important. Please don't hurt your body because of your son's affairs. If that happens, I would rather never marry."
Emperor Tianwu's anger was finally calmed down after Xuan Tianmo spoke. He let out a long sigh and said to Xuan Tianmo, "Don't worry, Mo'er. Your father will make the decision for you about the woman you like. She can be whatever you like, whether it's a legitimate daughter or a concubine's daughter, or a main wife or a concubine. Just carry her back to the palace." After saying that, he began to search below, and asked as he searched, "Where is the third young lady of the Feng family sitting? Stand up and let me see."
Xiangrong's fear became even worse, and Xuan Tianyi gave up begging Emperor Tianwu at this time. He knew that it was useless to ask his father, so he turned his attention to Feng Yuheng. He knew that Feng Yuheng took good care of Xiangrong, his sister, so as a sister, it was impossible for her to push Xiangrong out willingly at this time, right?
But when he looked at Feng Yuheng, he saw that Feng Yuheng did not immediately stand up to speak for Xiangrong, but stared at the direction opposite to him. Xuan Tianyi was puzzled, and soon found that the person Feng Yuheng was looking at was the seventh prince Xuan Tianhua. He was stunned. Could it be that Feng Yuheng placed his hopes on the seventh prince? What he couldn't ask Emperor Tianwu for, could the seventh prince do it?
Xuan Tianyi also had a question mark in his mind about this, but when it comes to Old Seven's influence and appeal, he really can't compare to him. If he can't get it, maybe Old Seven can really get it? But if he gets it, Xiangrong will become Old Seven's person, then he... is still drawing water with a bamboo basket, and it's all in vain!
Xuan Tianyi was very conflicted, but at this moment, Xiangrong could no longer sit still. Emperor Tianwu had spoken, so she had to stand up, walk to the front of the hall, and then kneel down, allowing Emperor Tianwu to look her up and down.
After a while, Emperor Tianwu said, "She is indeed a distinguished girl, but unfortunately her family background is not good and her status is low. But it doesn't matter. As long as my Mo'er likes her, I will make an exception and allow you to enter the Sheng Palace as a concubine. From now on, you must take good care of Mo'er and take good care of his food and daily life. The Sheng Palace has been without a mistress for so many years. In the days when the main wife has not entered the house, you still have to take this responsibility. Do you understand?"
“Your Majesty!” Xiangrong raised her head unwillingly and blurted out, “A humble woman…”
"Father." Xiang Rong had just said half of his words when he heard a gentle and refined voice from the prince's seat. In such an atmosphere, the voice sounded very healing, as if the fierce arrogance that had risen up between the Fourth Prince and the Eighth Prince for the woman had instantly subsided as soon as the voice came out. Everyone knew who the voice came from, and everyone also knew that only that person could make such a voice, but no one understood why the Seventh Prince actually spoke at this time? Could it be that he also wanted to get involved in this matter? He shouldn't! In all these years, when has the Seventh Prince ever looked at a woman differently?
Emperor Tianwu also felt strange. He looked in the direction of the voice, but saw that the seventh prince Xuan Tianhua just stood up from his seat, but did not leave the hall. He was dressed in a white robe, and was as elegant as a fairy in a painting. This son always gave him a sense of holiness. Whether in the past or now, there were many things he could say in front of others, but he always felt embarrassed to say them in front of this son. For example, now, he wanted to help Xuan Tianmo do a good thing, but he encountered obstacles again and again. He wanted to curse. If it was someone else who spoke, he would have cursed him, but it was this seventh son. This made his curse words rush to his lips, but he couldn't curse no matter what.
Emperor Tianwu suppressed his anger and asked, "Seventh Brother, what do you have to say?" After saying that, he felt that it was not enough, and quickly added, "I have already agreed to let Eighth Brother take the third girl of the Feng family as a concubine. My words are golden and there is no reason to take them back. If you are here to break up the marriage, forget it!" With these words, he blocked Xuan Tianhua.
However, what Xuan Tianhua wanted to say was not the same as Xuan Tianyi's, nor was he trying to force this marriage. He just wanted to remind Emperor Tianwu: "I know that your father's words are golden, and there is no reason to take them back. That's why I'm in a hurry to remind you. When the Dashun flood happened, the Third Miss of the Feng family made great contributions in fighting the disaster. Your father summoned her to the morning court and promised in front of all the ministers that the Third Miss of the Feng family could decide her own marriage. Your Majesty, the words of the king in the court are recorded in history."
As soon as these words came out, Feng Yuheng, who was sitting opposite, slightly curled up her lips. She knew that Xuan Tianhua, who was so smart, would definitely choose the most advantageous way to persuade Emperor Tianwu and resolve this matter. It seemed that the Fourth Prince was still too shallow. He knew that Emperor Tianwu was devoted to Old Eight, but he went against him. He wanted to marry the person that Old Eight liked, and even promised her as his principal wife. This would not only fail to save Xiangrong, but would also backfire, causing Emperor Tianwu to rebel and become more determined to give Xiangrong to Old Eight.
As expected, when Xuan Tianhua said this, Emperor Tianwu was stunned. He could not remember some of the past events, but after being reminded, he seemed to have a little memory, but it was not very clear.
As Xuan Tianhua brought up this topic, the important officials standing on the side of the Ninth Prince stood up one after another. Led by the Right Prime Minister Feng Qing and the Left Prime Minister Lu Song, they helped Emperor Tianwu recall the flood, the contribution made by Xiangrong, and the promise that Emperor Tianwu had indeed made.
Of course, they all knew that Emperor Tianwu said this just to help Xiangrong so that she would not be controlled by the Feng family. But they did not expect that it was not the Feng family who controlled Xiangrong in the end, but the emperor.
With so many people standing up to testify, Emperor Tianwu had no choice but to face up to this matter. Although he was a bit confused about the matter between Concubine Yuan and the Eighth Prince, he was not so confused that he would deny what he said in the court. Or to put it another way, Concubine Yuan's control over him was only in his heart, in his emotions, and in the throne, but she could not control such a large area.
Emperor Tianwu thought of what he had said and promised in the court. But since he had promised Feng Xiangrong that she could decide her own marriage, he could not arrange a marriage for her now. Even if he favored the Eighth Brother, he could not deny what he said in the court in front of so many eyes. Otherwise, what kind of emperor would he be? Who would take his words seriously in the future? Once the ruler of a country goes against his will, what kind of country is this?
Emperor Tianwu looked at Xuan Tianhua, then at Xuan Tianmo, and sighed helplessly, saying: "Mo'er, I forgot what I said before. I'm afraid that this matter... I can't make the decision for you."
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