Chapter 13, the Thirteenth Chapter: The Third Day Return to the Bride's Home.
Inside the Imperial Study, only Pei Lian and Pei Xuanlin were present. Pei Lian sat with a mountain of memorials piled up in front of him, waiting for his approval.
"This child, Chang'er, was born during the period when I was forced to abdicate. When Emperor Wen sent me and Empress Hui to Luzhou, she was still an infant less than three months old. Emperor Wen kept her in the palace. You were five years old then and can remember things. Chang'er was unsupervised, and even a palace maid dared to laugh at her to her face for being illiterate..."
Pei Xuanlin lowered his eyes and nodded.
"Two years ago, when the coup had just begun, Emperor Wen wanted to kill her to intimidate the royal family and set an example for others. If it weren't for Yang Chengxiu protecting her with her life, Empress Hui and I might not have met our daughter. So after I ascended the throne, I spoiled her a lot. You must understand my love for my daughter... She is immature, so don't hold it against her. Be more accommodating to her and let the siblings get along."
“If Your Majesty summoned me here only for this matter, then there is no need to worry. My sister Jin’an has suffered since childhood, and I will not hold a grudge against her over such trivial matters.” Pei Xuanlin bowed.
Pei Lian hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up: "Jin An came to me today, asking me to grant her and Yang Chengxiu a marriage. Jin An is only fifteen years old this year, and I declined for the time being because of her young age, but she will eventually bring it up again."
"..."
Not surprising.
“Sister Jin’an and Young Master Yang are childhood sweethearts, growing up together, and it’s understandable that they have feelings for each other. Your Majesty knows what you’re worried about. There are plenty of good men in the world. Your Majesty can find a suitable husband for Sister Jin’an another day after I’ve compiled a list of eligible young men from various families.”
Yang Chengxiu was the grandson of the former emperor. Logically, he should have been executed as a remnant of the dynasty. However, because he saved Pei Chang'er's life and Pei Chang'er pleaded for him, Emperor Xuan spared his life. Later, unable to resist Pei Chang'er's pleas, he even bestowed him upon her as a bodyguard.
"I know that Chengxiu and Chang'er have a good relationship, but unfortunately..."
Unfortunately, Yang Chengxiu could not stay in this world for long. As long as he lived, the old subordinates of the Yang family would not give up and would want to enthrone him as emperor. At that time, I fear that another coup would break out and the throne would be shaken.
Pei Xuanlin narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly.
However... what Emperor Xuan didn't know was that as early as Emperor Wen's reign, Pei Chang'er had already thrown herself into Yang Chengxiu's arms, and the two had already consummated their marriage. Moreover, Emperor Xuan would soon be able to see his grandson.
On the other side, in the Liangyi Hall of the Taiji Palace, Empress Chen Xiang was leaning against a cushion, scolding Pei Shang'er.
"What's wrong with you today? You actually went to your father, the Emperor, to ask for an official position for Yang Chengxiu, and even asked him to bestow him upon you as your son-in-law?"
Kneeling on the ground, Pei Chang'er's eyes were stubborn: "Your subject will marry no one but Chengxiu in this life."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiang became furious and threw a pillow at her, but only to scare her. She threw it at a slightly off-center angle and missed.
"Foolish!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
The palace maids immediately knelt down.
Chen Xiang waved her hand, "You may all leave."
"yes."
Upon receiving the order, the palace maids went out one by one, closing the door behind them before leaving.
"Alright, Chang'er, get up."
Pei Shang'er remained defiant: "Mother, when Yang Mingkong tried to kill me, neither you nor Father were by my side and could not save me. It was Chengxiu who stood in front of me and told Yang Mingkong that if he wanted to kill me, he should kill him first. That's how I survived. Now that our roles are reversed, how can I forget this kindness?"
"Get up first." Chen Xiang frowned, her head aching. "Have you forgotten his identity? His surname is Yang. With him around, those treacherous traitors who haven't given up will always be thinking about making him the second Yang Mingkong. Besides, he was once the Crown Prince."
Pei Chang'er stood up, indignantly saying, "If Chengxiu becomes emperor, he will definitely make me empress... Mother, please persuade Father to depose Pei Xuanlin from his position as crown prince and make me the crown princess. Then bestow a marriage upon me. At that time, the Yang family will certainly not rebel."
"What are you saying, Chang'er! This is utter nonsense! Not to mention that there has never been a precedent for making you the Crown Princess, if you were made the Crown Princess, I'm afraid Wuyang would be very uneasy." Chen Xiang thought it was inappropriate.
“What is Wu Yang? When I was young and humiliated in the palace, she didn’t care. My father even mercifully let her go. A person like her doesn’t deserve to live.”
Pei Shang'er utterly despised Pei Shen'ai's aloof and manipulative manner.
"Don't be angry, Chang'er." Chen Xiang's heart ached and softened when she thought of her daughter being mistreated by Emperor Wen when she was young and alone in the palace. "Here's what we'll do. I'll go and discuss with your father about bestowing the title of Prince of Huainan upon Yang Chengxiu. As for changing the heir apparent, that's a matter of national importance, so we'll discuss it later."
Pei Shang'er was delighted to hear this and went over to hug Chen Xiang, saying, "Mother is the best."
Chen Xiang gently comforted her daughter, thinking to herself that there was nothing she couldn't do for her, since she only had one daughter.
*
As night fell, Pei Xuanlin returned to his residence, his face ashen.
Ling Zhenli guessed that the emperor had reprimanded him because of the princess's matter, and that the originally agreed-upon visit to his father, Emperor Rui, had also been delayed. Pei Xuanlin must be in a bad mood now, so Ling Zhenli specially went to the kitchen and cooked some of her signature dishes for him to cheer him up.
"Your Highness, you must be tired after only returning now?" Ling Zhenli personally brought him warm water to wash his hands and said softly, "I have cooked a few dishes. Would Your Highness like them?"
Pei Xuanlin looked slightly surprised: "You can cook?"
"I learned some at home; my mother taught me." Ling Zhenli smiled as she served the food, personally placing a piece of sea bass to his lips. "Your Highness, would you like to try some?"
He ate with Ling Zhenli's chopsticks, and the gloom in his eyes eased slightly: "The taste is very good. My beloved concubine's cooking skills are so good that even the head chef of the imperial kitchen would probably want to become her apprentice."
Ling Zhenli took out a handkerchief to wipe the sauce from the corner of his lips, and took the opportunity to move closer: "Your Highness is good at coaxing people, but if Your Highness likes it, then I will make it for Your Highness often in the future."
"You're quite good at coaxing me."
Pei Xuanlin smiled, and Ling Zhenli quietly leaned over and lightly kissed his cheek, feigning shyness, "What did Your Highness just say? I didn't hear clearly."
Pei Xuanlin's eyes darkened, and he pulled Ling Zhenli into his arms.
"I said, I'll grant you anything."
"Stop fooling around, eat, eat."
...
As the candlelight flickered, his movements became less restrained than usual, and Ling Zhenli responded passionately in return.
To comfort him about the humiliation he suffered today, and also to quell my own inner unease.
When their passion reached its peak, he whispered in Ling Zhenli's ear, "Ali, kiss me."
Ling Zhenli's heart skipped a beat, and she sealed it with a kiss.
I slept well all night.
***
The three-day homecoming ceremony.
Pei Xuanlin considerately supported Ling Zhenli's waist as they stepped into the Prime Minister's residence. The maids in the corridor bowed in unison, and the Prime Minister and his wife, who had been preparing to welcome them, ushered them into the inner hall.
Ling Zhenli wore a lotus-root-colored silk skirt today, which made her skin look as smooth as jade.
Pei Xuanlin's gaze lingered on her neck for a moment; the red mark he had inadvertently left last night was now cleverly concealed by cosmetics.
He smiled, and Ling Zhenli noticed his gaze. She turned her head shyly, and then he saw with satisfaction that the tips of Ling Zhenli's ears turned slightly red.
Xue Wenmian smiled meaningfully. Not bad, Ling Zhenli has finally become somewhat useful. It wasn't a waste of him to give her such a good opportunity.
"Yingyue, after you married into the Eastern Palace, do you still remember your father's teachings?"
Before Ling Zhenli could answer, Pei Xuanlin bowed respectfully and said, "Yingyue has managed the Eastern Palace very well. Not only the Eastern Palace, but also the entire palace has praised her."
As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Ling Zhenli, who was somewhat surprised that he would speak up for her.
She said it so naturally that she almost believed it herself.
Xue Wenmian didn't cause any more trouble, and the group chatted and laughed as they entered the hall.
Cui Yuerong specially ordered that Pei Xuanlin's seat be arranged next to Ling Zhenli, which was a breach of etiquette in the homecoming ceremony, but it suited his wishes perfectly.
At the banquet, Pei Xuanlin was very attentive to Ling Zhenli, personally removing crab meat from her bones. The Prime Minister and his wife seemed quite satisfied, but the only one who was dissatisfied was Xue Haoting, who was sitting opposite them.
She often had a long face when she was with him, but now she smiles sweetly at the Crown Prince.
His jealousy twisted his mind, making Xue Haoting unable to bear seeing Ling Zhenli basking in the company of another man. So he deliberately spoke up:
"Yingyue, do you still remember a game we played when we were little?"
Upon hearing Xue Haoting's voice, Ling Zhenli's body stiffened instantly, and her face turned ugly, but her hand holding the cup remained motionless, and a smile still lingered on her lips.
Although she didn't know what kind of trick Xue Haoting was up to torment her, she didn't believe he would dare to disrespect her in front of so many people.
"Brother, I don't remember the games we played when we were little."
"Why can't you remember?"
Xue Haoting leaned forward, “In your boudoir, we played hide-and-seek together. You made me search blindfolded. You loved to hide under your bed and sneak out to scare me when I couldn’t find you…”
The more he spoke, the more ashen Ling Zhenli's face turned.
Even a young girl's brother cannot enter her boudoir without permission. By saying these words, Xue Haoting is essentially condemning her to utter ruin in front of the Crown Prince...
Xue Wenmian and Cui Yuerong also looked displeased. They thought it was one thing for their son to secretly make inappropriate advances toward their adopted daughter, but they never expected that their son would dare to suggest and flirt with Ling Zhenli in public, especially in front of her current husband, the current Crown Prince Pei Xuanlin.
Pei Xuanlin sensed the disrespect in her words and saw the troubled look on Ling Zhenli's face. So, he slammed his chopsticks heavily onto the jade plate.
A crisp sound rang out, and the entire room fell silent.
"Ali is currently in poor health and should not dwell on the past."
Pei Xuanlin's eyes were cold, the chilling light in them seeming to want to kill Xue Haoting. As he spoke, he served Ling Zhenli a piece of steamed shad with elegant movements. The next second, he warned Xue Haoting.
"Minister of the Imperial Household, it is true that the Crown Princess is your brother or sister, but you must always remember the distinction between ruler and subject and dare not speak offensively."
Xue Haoting's expression shifted between anger and resentment, but ultimately, due to Pei Xuanlin being the Crown Prince, he had no choice but to swallow his anger: "Your Highness, I will obey your teachings."
Pei Xuanlin caught a glimpse of Ling Zhenli's relaxed expression out of the corner of his eye, and his mood improved slightly as well.
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