Chapter 301 Threat, Congratulations, Your Highness
The Longqing Emperor was beaming with joy.
"Yes, although the date has not yet been set, I have already issued an edict to bestow the title of Prince Rui upon the sixth prince. The imperial edict of bestowing the title and the imperial edict of granting the marriage were issued together and will be announced to the world today."
"Oh, Little Shen, you don't know who the Sixth Prince is going to marry, do you?"
Chen Chu felt a dull ache in his heart, as if someone had stabbed him with a blunt knife.
"I do not know."
"She is the Empress Dowager's grandniece, Chen Jiaying, the youngest daughter of Grand Secretary Chen, the Second Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. She is a famous talented woman in the capital, with a dignified and gentle temperament. She and the Sixth Prince are truly a match made in heaven."
Shen Chu didn't even hear who the Longqing Emperor was talking about. She only heard the words "a match made in heaven" amplified in her ears, making her head buzz.
Pei Yuan and the others are a match made in heaven...
Her lips moved, and she heard her own voice sound somewhat unsteady.
"Is Your Highness also looking forward to this marriage?"
The Longqing Emperor laughed heartily.
"Of course, he agreed to the marriage as soon as I mentioned it, and he is currently talking to Miss Chen next door."
Indeed, they are young men full of vigor and passion; how could they not long for marriage and children?
Speaking of which, Miss Chen often went to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, so they had known each other since childhood.
Shen Chu's eyes stung, and she felt as if a dull knife was cutting her heart piece by piece.
A dull, throbbing pain, like blood seeping through.
He accepted the arranged marriage and was filled with anticipation for the wedding...
He and the Chen family girl had known each other since childhood, so there must have been some affection between them, right?
Shen Chu bit her lip, suppressing the stinging in her eyes.
She was even inexplicably relieved that she hadn't had a chance to tell Pei Yuan her true identity as a woman.
"Oh? Little Shen, you don't look too well. What's wrong?"
Suddenly, the Longqing Emperor's puzzled voice rang in my ears.
Shen Chu suddenly came to his senses and quickly lowered his head, "Your Majesty, I am alright. I am happy for you."
Emperor Longqing raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression somewhat ambiguous.
"Happy for Lao Liu? Are you really serious?"
Shen Chu's heart skipped a beat. "Of course."
The Longqing Emperor smiled enigmatically, "Shenchu, do you know why I suddenly decided to bestow a marriage upon the sixth prince?"
Shen Chu suddenly remembered the rumors Luo Heng had mentioned, and her heart sank.
"I do not know."
The Longqing Emperor scoffed, "You two are so close, how could you not know?"
Shen Chu knelt on the ground, not daring to reply.
The Longqing Emperor's voice was cold and deep.
"I don't care whether it's rumors or true feelings between you, but one thing is certain: the Great Wei royal family must never have a second prince with homosexual tendencies. Do you understand?"
His Majesty did indeed hear those messages.
Chen Chu's heart sank to the bottom.
The Longqing Emperor looked at her coldly.
“Chen Chu, I will not pursue your past crimes because you are the last bloodline of the Marquis of Ning’an.”
But if you collude with the sixth prince to commit an unforgivable mistake, I would not mind making the Ning'an Marquis's mansion bear the name of traitors again, and I would not mind exterminating the entire Ning'an Marquis's mansion.
Do you understand what I mean?
A chill ran down Shen Chu's back; the fear and coldness rising from the depths of her heart made her tremble uncontrollably.
She wasn't afraid of losing her life, but she had worked hard for ten years to finally clear her family's name.
They are no longer the traitors who are despised and the culprits who massacred the city by the Northern Rong!
The Shen family ancestral hall had just opened, and the Shen family ancestral graves had just been repaired.
She couldn't let her parents and family bear the stigma of traitors again, have their graves desecrated and bones mutilated, and have their souls restless in the afterlife.
She can't!
Shen Chu slammed his hand on the ground, his lips trembling, and said softly, "Your subject understands!"
A hint of satisfaction appeared in the eyes of the Longqing Emperor, and his expression softened slightly.
"It's good that you understand what I mean. I'm doing this for your and the sixth prince's own good."
If the two of you really cause a sensational scandal, Lao Liu's future will be ruined.
Similarly, your bright future will be completely ruined. As a man, if you cannot achieve anything, you are nothing but a useless person.
Shen Chu felt both bitter and astringent.
She wasn't a man, but she couldn't bring herself to say those words right now.
To say it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor.
Moreover, Pei Yuan had no romantic feelings for her; he had already accepted the arranged marriage and had a fiancée.
She suppressed the bitterness in her heart and asked in a low voice, "What does Your Majesty wish Chen Chu to do?"
The Longqing Emperor looked down at her.
"Once you go to Yangzhou, don't return to the capital. After the Yangzhou case is resolved, I will give you a post outside the capital."
As long as you perform your duties diligently, I will not treat you unfairly.
Shen Chu's face drained of color, and she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, chilled to the bone.
She lay on the ground, tears gently sliding down her cheeks.
"I obey the order."
"I hope that what happened today is known only to you and to me. If a third party finds out..."
"Your subject dares not."
Emperor Longqing waved his hand, "Alright, take the case files from Yangzhou and leave. I hope you can set off as soon as possible."
"yes."
As Chen Chu stood up, a wave of dizziness washed over her.
She stumbled and barely managed to grab the table to avoid falling.
Taking a deep breath and calming herself, she picked up the files and left.
A sudden autumn wind blew outside, chilling everyone to the bone.
The door to the imperial study next door suddenly opened.
Pei Yuan strode out with a sullen face.
The two met eyes unexpectedly.
Shen Chu gripped the file tightly with her fingertips.
It was as if only in this way could she give herself some strength and not feel so bad.
Her lips trembled slightly. She lowered her eyes and stared at the bluestone slabs on the ground, and said softly, "Congratulations to the sixth prince... congratulations to Your Highness for finding such a beautiful companion."
Pei Yuan's eyes churned with emotion, and he subconsciously took a step forward, "A-Chu."
"Your Highness."
With a soft call, a graceful young woman walked out of the house.
The young girl wore a twelve-panel silk skirt in the color of Xiangfei (a type of flower), with a rosy face and peach-like cheeks, and smiled before she even spoke.
"Your Highness, don't move. Jia Ying will help you treat the wound on your forehead."
Chen Jiaying tiptoed and gently wiped the bloodstains from Pei Yuan's forehead with a handkerchief.
Pei Yuan frowned and subconsciously raised his hand to block Chen Jiaying's hand.
Chen Jiaying, however, took the opportunity to pull his arm and whispered, "Your Highness, His Majesty is watching."
Pei Yuan froze, then looked up to see Emperor Longqing walking out of the Hall of State Affairs with his hands behind his back, smiling as he looked in their direction.
He forcefully suppressed the urge to shake off Chen Jiaying and stood still.
Chen Jiaying leaned closer and gently wiped away the bloodstains with a handkerchief, her soft voice full of concern.
"Your Highness, does it hurt?"
Pei Yuan pursed his thin lips and used the pretext of adjusting his sleeves to shake off Chen Jiaying's hand.
"It doesn't hurt. If you wipe it a little slower, the wound will heal soon."
Chen Jiaying's smile froze for a moment, then she covered her mouth and laughed.
"Jiaying is just worried about you, Your Highness. You're so funny."
Pei Yuan pursed his lips and remained silent, but his eyes couldn't help but look at Chen Chu.
Shen Chu was watching him from not far away.
He was right there, within arm's reach; he could have stepped over him and grabbed him in one stride.
Yet it seemed so far away, a step he could never take.
Shen Chu stared blankly at the scene before her, feeling as if a huge rock was pressing down on her chest, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
At this moment, the Longqing Emperor walked over with his hands behind his back and asked with a smile, "Minister Shen, do you think Prince Rui and Miss Chen are a perfect match, a match made in heaven?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com