Chapter 782: Granted Marriage
After being beaten with the stick twenty times, Luo Yanzhi could no longer make a sound.
He was carried into the temple and laid on the ground.
Even though he was wearing thick clothes in winter, blood was still oozing from his back, and his face was frighteningly pale.
But even so, he still gritted his teeth, got up, knelt on the ground, and thanked the emperor.
Even though he didn't think he was wrong, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and take the beating.
Just because the other party was the emperor, he had to thank him no matter whether he was rewarded or punished.
This scene fell into the eyes of everyone present, and the reactions were different.
Some people felt sympathy, some felt awe, and some were thoughtful.
Xia Yuran was still kneeling, she didn't dare to look at Luo Yanzhi beside her.
She is the daughter of Princess Hua'an and the only granddaughter of the Empress Dowager. She has been treated like a pearl in the palm of her hand since she was a child and has never suffered any grievances. She is used to being flamboyant in her dealings with others and has always only sought her own happiness, regardless of how others feel.
Today was the first time she felt the majesty of the emperor.
In front of the emperor, no matter who she was, her life or death was just a matter of his whim.
In complete silence.
The emperor spoke coldly.
"Since the two of you have already secretly given each other the gift, I will grant your blessing and grant you marriage."
Luo Yanzhi raised his head suddenly, his red eyes filled with shock and anger.
If he were to marry such a shameless and stupid woman, he would definitely become the laughing stock of the entire Shengjing City!
He wanted to refuse, but when the words came to his lips, he swallowed them back.
He had been demoted from a prince to a county prince. If he openly disobeyed the emperor's order again, the emperor would take the opportunity to demote him further. You should know that the lowest rank of the king in the Great Sheng Dynasty was the county prince. If he was demoted further, he would only be a commoner.
Even though he was extremely angry and unwilling, Luo Yanzhi could only lower his head in hatred in the end.
"Your Highness, I obey your command and thank you for your grace."
No matter how stupid Xia Yuran was, she knew that if she married Luo Yanzhi under such circumstances, her life would be very difficult in the future.
But she didn't dare to refuse, for she was afraid that she would also be dragged out and beaten with a stick.
She kowtowed tremblingly to express her gratitude.
The family dinner on the first day of the Lunar New Year came to an end.
Xia Yuran left the palace and went home with her parents and younger brother.
The prince consort took his youngest son in one carriage, while Xia Yuran followed Princess Hua'an in another carriage.
In the car, Xia Yuran lay on her mother's lap, crying uncontrollably.
Princess Hua'an felt so distressed that she advised softly.
"Don't cry, things have come to this point, we can only positively find ways to face it."
Xia Yuran cried, "What else can I think of? The emperor has already issued an order to grant us marriage, how can I disobey it?"
Princess Hua'an comforted her, "Haven't you always liked the Prince of Jing County? Now that you can marry him, it can be regarded as a wish of yours. You should think positively."
Xia Yuran: "Yes, I like him very much, but I don't want to marry him in this way!"
Princess Hua'an was also very clear in her mind that this way of granting a marriage was tantamount to slapping Prince Jing and Xia Yuran in the face, and both of them were very embarrassed.
Both of them grew up in luxury and were used to being self-centered. Forcing them together under such embarrassing circumstances would only make them resentful of each other.
How can they live in peace in this case?
I don't know whether this marriage is a marriage of relatives or enemies?
Everyone thought the matter was over.
Unexpectedly, on the third day of the Lunar New Year, the emperor issued another imperial decree, accusing Xia Yuran of having no talent or virtue and being unworthy of being a county princess, so she was demoted from a county princess to a county lady.
Xia Yuran took the imperial edict and cried again in the house.
Now even Princess Hua'an noticed that something was wrong.
If it was just a private transaction, demoting Xia Yuran from Princess to County Lady would already be a severe punishment. How could she be demoted from County Lady to Township Lady?
Is there some other hidden secret here?
Princess Hua'an went to her daughter's courtyard specially and comforted her.
When Xia Yuran gradually calmed down, Princess Hua An asked about the main business.
"Tell me the truth, on the night of the first day of the new year, besides having sex upstairs, did you and the King of Jing County do anything else?"
Facing his mother, Xia Yuran hesitated for just a moment before telling her the truth.
After hearing what she said, Princess Hua An's face looked extremely ugly.
Princess Hua'an raised her hand and slapped her daughter hard in the face.
With a crisp sound!
Xia Yuran was completely stunned.
This was the first time she was beaten by her mother since she was born.
After a brief daze, she came to her senses and tears immediately welled up in her eyes again.
She was crying even harder now than before.
However, this time Princess Hua An did not comfort her, but suppressed her heartache and reprimanded her coldly.
“I thought you were just a little willful. Considering your background, it’s okay to be a little willful.
But I didn't expect that you are not only willful, but also stupid, impulsive and self-righteous!
You speculated about the relationship between the Imperial Concubine and Prince Jingxian based on just a little delusion, and even thought of using it to control Prince Jingxian.
What? Do you think everyone is stupid and you are the only smart person in the world?
If you are really that powerful, why would you still be a princess? Just declare yourself a king!"
Xia Yuran was scolded until her face turned red and she couldn't utter a word. In the end, she could only lie on the table and cry.
Princess Hua'an felt very sad when she saw her daughter like this.
But in the end, she held back from saying anything to comfort him, and instead steeled her heart.
"Since the Emperor has granted you a marriage, you should stay at home and wait for your wedding. Before you get married, you cannot leave the house. If you dare to do anything wrong again, don't blame me for not recognizing you as my daughter!"
After saying this, she turned away.
Xia Yuran was left alone in the room, crying.
Princess Hua'an told this to her husband, who was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.
The prince consort was a gentle man, and usually indulged his children, but he never expected that his daughter would do such a dangerous thing.
Without any real evidence, people speculated that the imperial concubine had an affair with another man.
If this matter gets out of hand, it would be like forcing a green hat on the emperor's head!
How could the emperor tolerate this?
It was already an extra favor for him to spare Xia Yuran's life.
Princess Hua'an was so angry that she had a headache.
"I really didn't expect Yu Ran to be so foolish. It's also our fault for not being too strict with her.
I plan to go to the palace and ask my mother to give me two capable maids.
While Yu Ran is still unmarried, let the maids take good care of her, so that she can know what the sky is high and the earth is thick. "
The prince consort asked gently, "Do you want me to accompany you to the palace?"
Princess Hua An shook her head and said, "No need. There are many people coming to visit us recently and we need someone to take charge of the family. You have to stay at home and I will go to the palace alone."
(End of this chapter)
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