If the emperor wanted, he could place people in every city and prefecture. Huo Xiaolong's actions were reported to the current emperor.
The man sat before the dragon desk, gripping his writing brush tightly, while the chief eunuch beside him dared not utter a sound.
These are the things that the current emperor hates most. He even believes that the reason the previous crown prince was able to be defeated by him was because he cared too much about his wife's feelings.
Women can have it, and they can like it.
But you must not let her get to you and delay your important matters.
Sincerity is the least important thing in the face of power.
“It’s not a big deal. Since the Prince of Zhenbei wants women from all over the country to leave their homes and see the world, we’ll arrange a few beauties in her household. The Marquis of the Southwest is twenty-five; he should have a concubine.”
"Since there are no female elders in his family now, he can let me, the matriarch, do the work for him."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor raised his head, looked at his mother whose hair had turned gray, and bowed deeply to her.
"Thank you, Mother, for helping me. I am an unfilial son. You have worked so hard."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand and ordered her servants to bring over the catalog of eligible women in the capital.
News can't be kept secret, especially about matchmaking. It spreads extremely fast among the wealthy women in Beijing. Apart from those from humble backgrounds who are eager to marry into higher social classes, most people with some family background are unwilling to participate.
First, the status of the concubines of the Marquis of the Northwest cannot be low. Daughters of concubines are definitely not acceptable. Every family's legitimate daughters are carefully cultivated to be good pawns. Throwing them to the side of the Marquis of the Northwest is like throwing stones into the water. They can only make noise but never see any use.
Secondly, those families who doted on their daughters were afraid because the Prince of Zhenbei was the mistress of the house. She was the one who conquered the grasslands. If their daughters got in her way, they would probably lose their heads the next day.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is selecting concubines for you. What do you think..."
Lan Yi stood beside Lan Tingche, who wore a brocade robe embroidered with exceptionally beautiful silver mulberry flowers. His eyes, which had been lightly closed, opened upon hearing the news, and he smiled as he spoke.
“The marriage certificate states that I am marrying into the family, and a son-in-law cannot take a concubine. Even the Empress Dowager must abide by the laws of the Great Yan Dynasty, and a marriage by imperial decree is not allowed.”
"But Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager doesn't know that you've married into the family."
"You'll find out when we get to the capital. Let her be happy for a couple of days first."
"yes."
Lan Yi turned to leave, intending to tell Long'er about it, but the person behind him seemed to sense his intention and casually called out to him.
"Long'er, you don't need to tell me, I'll go."
The man returned to Lan Tingche's side, helped him dress, and helped him up.
Wearing a jade crown and brocade robe, with two strands of hair falling loosely at his temples, and petals occasionally brushed down from the trees and landing on his head, he extended a slender finger and tapped Long'er's shoulder, who was engrossed in official business, before speaking.
"Long'er".
"What's wrong, Brother Tingche?"
The girl put down the official documents, pulled out a stool for him, and gestured for him to sit next to her.
The man's brows furrowed slightly, and he looked somewhat irritated. He lowered his head and whispered to the person beside him.
"The Empress Dowager doesn't want us to have a good life together."
"What do you mean?" Long'er didn't understand at first, and then asked.
"A scout from the capital reports that she is choosing concubines for me."
She looked so aggrieved, as if she was about to cry, her hands gripping the teacup tightly, her fingertips flushed red with blood.
"Ah, this..."
Huo Xiaolong wasn't afraid that other women would appear in the household in the future. First of all, given her temperament, she definitely wouldn't agree to it. If the imperial decree insisted on being issued, she would simply raise the banner and march directly to the capital.
"Pure" is an insult.
Secondly, to put it bluntly, the beneficiary of this matter is still Lan Tingche. He won the heart of the beauty, even though the beauty might be a spy. He is the one who is truly enjoying the good fortune, so why is he looking so aggrieved?
"Are you angry? Is it because I'm useless? It's all my fault for making Long'er so upset."
The girl quickly snatched the teacup from his hand and placed it on the table, then took his hand and coaxed him.
"No, no, it's all the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's fault. My brother Che is the best in my family, and he has never caused me any trouble."
The man stood ramrod straight, staring up at the girl's beautiful face, and then said...
"Then you can't let other women touch me."
hold head high?
Huo Xiaolong reacted quickly; although his mind hadn't fully grasped the meaning of those words, he had already spoken them.
"Don't worry, with me here, no other woman will touch you, not even by anyone's permission."
The man nodded upon hearing this, finally breaking into a smile.
"Long'er has me in her heart."
"Of course you're included. Why else would we be engaged?"
Lan Yi looked up at the sky behind his master and felt that his master looked just like... the prince's fiancée, exactly like the one described in the storybook.
Oh, so these two finished their flirting and are now bossing me around.
"Lan Yi, go to my room and get the arm patch."
"yes."
In a small courtyard in Jiangnan, under the shade of lush green trees, a man and a woman sit facing each other in a decorative vase filled with ice.
The young girl picked up her pen to process official documents, writing furiously.
The man held an embroidery needle and quietly practiced the newly learned needlework techniques beside her.
Peaceful and serene.
The King of the Southwest thought the same thing. The old man, with his gray hair and conflicted expression, watched this scene.
When the crown prince asked to marry his daughter, the old king of the southwest was not happy and even wanted to throw him out.
Now that their little pig has learned to root up cabbages, they wonder if Youxin and that bastard can see it from underground.
I just don't know who he took after. His daughter wasn't exactly the type to patiently embroider back then.
As for the crown prince, he is even less so.
Which part was born wrong?
"I just don't understand. He's someone who can fight our father to a standstill, yet he's doing this pretentious embroidery. Look at what he said, 'Don't let other women touch me.' Is that something a man should say?"
Huo Xiaocheng happened to hear this sentence and got angry. He went back and grumbled to his wife.
Chunying really wanted to say, "Your woman is susceptible to this kind of thing."
Look at how wild He Yi and Huo Shuwen have become outside! They went to fight on the grasslands with their daughter and cut off the most heads.
When he was a general under Xiao Lanyi, he never took the marshal seriously and ignored anyone he didn't like.
Even with someone like that, her mother-in-law still coaxes her every day, calling her "Brother Wen" repeatedly.
While waiting around with nothing to do, the eagle even shed a couple of tears for its old lady.
Don't you know what kind of girl your mother likes?
Does our little sister have any genetic issues?
No problem.
What's more, Lan Tingche grew up in a brothel and was happy to cling to Huo Shuwen. Now look what's happened, you come to me asking if you could at least look at your own background before you ask me!
"Are you angry?" Chunying asked with a smile.
"A little bit, I don't care if my little sister gets married."
"He's not even happy about the engagement," Huo Xiaocheng added.
"You."
The woman didn't say much, but simply opened her arms and let Huo Xiaocheng rest his head on her lap. She didn't even realize how doting her tone was.
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