Chapter 300 He Wants a Future with Shen Chu
Pei Yuan clenched his fists, feeling a surge of frustration rising from the depths of his heart and instantly filling his entire chest.
He even had an impulse to grab the imperial edict that Cai Chong handed him and throw it away.
Struggling to suppress his inner turmoil, he looked up at the Longqing Emperor.
"Why did Father Emperor suddenly bestow upon me the title of Prince and arrange a marriage?"
Emperor Longqing raised an eyebrow. "As the commander of the Flying Eagle Guard, you have worked diligently these past few years and made invaluable contributions to helping me clean up the court. I have long wanted to bestow upon you the title of king."
As for the arranged marriage, you'll be nineteen soon, it's time to get married. Wouldn't it be better to get married soon and give me a few big, healthy grandsons?"
Pei Yuan pursed his thin lips.
"My eldest brother (the deposed crown prince) has two sons, my second brother has a son and a daughter, and my fourth brother also has a son. Father has no shortage of grandsons, so there's no need for me to have one, is there?"
"They are them, and you are you. It doesn't conflict for them to have children or for you to get married and have children."
"When I took over the Flying Eagle Guard, I swore to you that I would be the sharpest blade in Father's hands."
Therefore, I do not wish to marry and have children, lest I be constrained by in-laws and act inappropriately. I humbly request that Your Majesty rescind the decree bestowing the marriage upon me.
The Longqing Emperor slowly rose from his dragon throne, frowning as he looked at him.
"Sixth Prince, I have always trusted you to do things. Getting married and having children will not affect your position as the commander of the Flying Eagle Guard."
"Do you really intend to never marry and have children in your entire life?"
Pei Yuan smiled bitterly to himself.
Shen Chu is a man, so how can he marry and have children in this life?
"If there is no suitable person, I would rather never get married in my life."
"Nonsense!" Emperor Longqing slammed his hand on the table, scattering the memorials on it all over the floor.
Pei Yuan knelt on the ground and insisted, "Please, Father, withdraw the imperial decree."
Emperor Longqing snorted coldly, "The right person? Grand Secretary Chen's daughter, Chen Jiaying, is the Empress Dowager's grandniece. She is gentle and talented."
The Chen family was a family of officials for generations, and also a family of upright scholars with a righteous family tradition.
Chen Jiaying is the most suitable person for you. Marrying her will not only help you manage the household, but you will also gain the support of your wife's family.
Sixth Brother, do you only want to be the commander of the Flying Eagle Guard for the rest of your life? Haven't you thought about the future?
Pei Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted.
He had naturally thought about the future.
Before he met Shen Chu, he was ambitious and secretly built the Green Jade Pavilion and the Breeze Pavilion.
He was unwilling to be an ordinary prince; he wanted to rise to a higher position so that he wouldn't be trampled underfoot like he had been when he was a child.
But after meeting Shen Chu, every frame of his vision of the future included another person.
He wanted a future with Shen Chu.
He would rather not have that higher position, that more scorching power, if Shen Chu wasn't by his side.
Pei Yuan lowered his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Your subject does not like Miss Chen. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and rescind the imperial decree."
"How dare you! I've been patiently talking to you for ages, and you haven't listened to a single word?"
Emperor Longqing was furious and grabbed a paperweight from the table, throwing it at Pei Yuan.
The paperweight flew past Pei Yuan's forehead, leaving a glaring scratch.
The roar of the Longqing Emperor echoed in the imperial study.
"You don't like the Chen family girl? Who do you like? Shen Chu? Why do you think I would bestow a marriage upon you?"
Rumors are circulating in the court that you and Shen Chu are having an affair. Do you think I don't know?
Pei Yuan suddenly raised his head.
Emperor Longqing was furious. "I have warned you repeatedly that it is fine to get close to Shen Chu, but don't cause any scandals."
The scandal involving the third prince had already caused a great uproar in the city, making me lose face.
You are my beloved sixth son, and you are the commander of the Flying Eagle Guard. If you also have entanglements with court officials and the scandal of having homosexual relationships gets out, it will be difficult to prevent such rumors from spreading.
Where will I put my old face? Where will the entire Wei royal family's reputation be?
Pei Yuan said, "Rumors and gossip are always rampant in the capital. How can Father Emperor believe such things?"
"Ha, there's no smoke without fire. Do you dare deny your feelings for Shen Chu? Do you dare swear on your deceased mother that you don't like Shen Chu?"
Pei Yuan pursed his dry, hoarse throat, feeling as if his throat was blocked with countless cotton balls, making it hard for him to breathe.
He dared not swear.
The Longqing Emperor looked at him coldly, "The rumors have affected the face of the royal family, so I cannot ignore them."
The simplest way to dispel the rumors is for you to accept the arranged marriage, marry and have children as soon as possible, and then distance yourself from Shen Chu.
Pei Yuan clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his hands bulging.
He remained silent for a long time before asking softly, "What if I do not accept the arranged marriage?"
The Longqing Emperor looked at him quietly, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"If you do not wish to accept the arranged marriage, that is fine too. I will have to resort to another method."
Pei Yuan suddenly felt a bad premonition.
"What does Father Emperor want to do?"
The Longqing Emperor ignored him and waved his hand, "Cai Chong."
Cai Chong came in from outside, carrying a wooden tray.
On the tray was a pot of wine and a small wine glass.
Pei Yuan's expression changed slightly.
Emperor Longqing nodded and gave instructions to Cai Chong.
"A secret recipe from the palace, the finest arsenic, one sip and it's deadly. Go and send it to Chen Chu."
Pei Yuan suddenly stood up and grabbed Cai Chong.
"don't want."
The Longqing Emperor stroked his beard, his expression indifferent.
"Either you accept the arranged marriage, or Shen Chu accepts the bestowed wine. Sixth Brother, the choice is yours."
Pei Yuan felt a heavy, oppressive weight in his heart, as if a huge boulder was constantly crashing against his internal organs, causing him so much pain that he couldn't speak.
Emperor Longqing patted Pei Yuan on the shoulder and sighed softly.
"Sixth Prince, you are the son I trust most, and I don't want to force you."
But you must also understand me. I am the emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty, and I cannot disregard the opinions of my officials and the people of the land regarding the imperial family.
I hope you won't blame me. I'm doing this for your own good. What parent doesn't want what's best for their child?
The words "for your own good" weighed heavily on Pei Yuan's head.
He suppressed the sweet taste rising in his throat, closed his eyes briefly, and spoke in a voice so soft it was almost ethereal, yet each word was enunciated clearly:
"Your subject, I receive the imperial decree!"
A smile appeared in the eyes of the Longqing Emperor.
"That's right. You're still young and don't understand now, but one day you'll thank me."
Pei Yuan gripped the imperial edict tightly in his hand, remaining silent.
Emperor Longqing gave Cai Chong a wink.
"I heard that Chen Jiaying went to the palace today to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. Go and invite her over so she can have a word with Lao Liu."
Now that we're engaged, we should get to know each other as soon as possible.
Pei Yuan instinctively refused, "No need, I have other matters to attend to."
The Longqing Emperor's smile faded slightly. "I will go to the State Affairs Hall to see how well they are understanding Shen Chu's case file."
Pei Yuan suddenly turned his head and looked at the pot of wine in Cai Chong's hand.
"Father!"
Emperor Longqing smiled slightly, "Speak nicely to Miss Chen. Don't worry, as long as you cooperate, this pot of wine won't get into Chen Chu's stomach."
Pei Yuan remained silent for a long time before saying in a hoarse voice, "Your subject obeys the decree."
The government affairs hall next door.
When Shen Chu saw the Longqing Emperor walk in with his hands behind his back, he quickly put down the dossier in his hand, stood up and bowed.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
The Longqing Emperor waved his hand, turned around and sat down, asking with a smile, "How's the review of the case files going?"
"I have a general understanding of the case, but the specific details will need to be carefully verified after we arrive in Yangzhou."
The Longqing Emperor nodded, "You are meticulous and cautious. I am naturally at ease entrusting this case to you."
It's a pity you have to leave soon, otherwise you could stay and attend Lao Liu's wedding banquet and share in his joy.
Shen Chu suddenly looked up and exclaimed, "The Sixth Prince is getting married?"
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