"Oh? Since it's already arranged, then when the time comes, we just need to go through the formalities. Or is the man going to back out?"
Emperor Qingyuan listened and asked.
Consort Chu said with difficulty
"No, that's not it. It's just that my father originally betrothed Mingzhu to Xiao Yi, but now that the Chu family has fallen, I heard that Xiao Yi has just won a battle and is riding high. I'm sure countless women want to marry him."
Mingzhu has no family to support her; she only has me as her elder sister, and I'm in the palace, so we only see each other a few times a year. I'm afraid Mingzhu will suffer if she marries into that family, so I'm thinking of asking His Majesty to issue an imperial decree to grant Mingzhu and Xiao Yi a marriage, just to give Mingzhu some face."
When Emperor Qingyuan heard that it was Xiao Yi, the smile on his face faded a bit.
Logically speaking, since Xiao Yi was personally trained by Chu Wei, it would be normal for Chu Wei to betroth Chu Mingzhu to him. However, Xiao Yi now holds military power, and when Consort Chu mentions that Xiao Yi should marry Chu Mingzhu, his first thought is about choosing sides.
He is in his prime, and the crown prince has not yet been appointed. At this time, he does not want to see court officials siding with a particular prince, and Xiao Yi even more so.
He finally managed to take back the Chu family's military power and make Xiao Yi marry Chu Mingzhu, which meant that Xiao Yi had sided with the Fifth Prince. Wasn't all his efforts in vain?
The thought that he was only in his early forties and that his son was already paving the way for him filled Emperor Qingyuan with deep sorrow. But there was nothing he could do. Being born into the royal family was an inescapable fate for a prince. Hadn't his brothers of the same generation gone through the same thing?
Thinking of this, and seeing Consort Chu's furrowed brows, Emperor Qingyuan sighed.
"I am aware of this matter. We will discuss it further when Xiao Yi returns!"
After saying that, he left!
"Sister, does the Emperor not agree to issue the imperial decree for the marriage? He doesn't seem very happy about it!"
Seeing Emperor Qingyuan walk away, Chu Mingzhu asked worriedly.
"It's alright. When it comes to military power, he'll always have to consider it carefully!"
Anyway, there are still a few days before Xiao Yi returns; I'll get the Emperor to grant the marriage.
"Sister is indeed capable. No wonder our parents praised you as smarter than me when they were alive. You can get the Emperor to do whatever you want. You are definitely better than me!"
Speaking of this, Consort Chu was somewhat proud and said arrogantly.
"If you want a man to obey you, you need to understand his thoughts and cater to his preferences. You should lower your stance when necessary, but don't be submissive all the time. You should also be assertive when necessary. What men like is not a vase that can be manipulated by others!"
Give him what he lacks, and use what he wants to get what you want.
For example, why would the emperor like to come to me? Because I have no rules here. He can eat and talk at the same time, and he can eat and talk at the same time. He can eat whatever dish he wants.
Even rules like "one should not eat more than three times" and "one should not speak while eating or sleeping" depend on whether the emperor likes them or not.
There are rules everywhere in this palace, but I don't have any rules here. When he comes to my place, he feels like he's in an ordinary wealthy family, where there are people and warmth, so naturally he's willing to come!
How do you win a man's heart? I'll send you a tutor later, and you can learn slowly from her!
"Don't worry about Xiao Yi's matter. I'll add fuel to the fire before he gets back!"
After listening, Chu Mingzhu nodded, somewhat confused.
After Consort Chu finished speaking, she told Chu Mingzhu to return to her place.
She then summoned the Fifth Prince and planned to have him assassinated.
The reason why Emperor Qingyuan refused to grant Chu Mingzhu and Xiao Yi a marriage was simply because he was afraid that military power would fall into the wrong hands. If one side became too powerful, then she would show weakness, and Emperor Qingyuan would naturally reconsider.
Because the Fifth Prince was also his own flesh and blood. He was the emperor and also a father. If his son was in danger or being bullied, could he bear to just stand by and watch?
Consort Chu whispered a few words in the Fifth Prince's ear, and the Fifth Prince immediately understood her meaning, whispering...
"Your subject understands, Mother Consort. Rest assured, no one will be able to tell!"
Then he left the palace.
Everything that needed to be arranged had been arranged; Consort Chu was now just waiting to see the results.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yi, who was being targeted by the Chu sisters, was slowly walking back from a place 500 miles away from the capital!
Nanxing was right. The princess Wangshu sent by the Tatars was a delicate and beautiful woman. She was hungry, thirsty, and complained that the road was too bumpy. She said that she would travel for one day and rest for three days, which was not an exaggeration at all.
Even though Xiao Yi was eager to return home, the other party just did as she pleased, taking a break whenever she wanted, and Xiao Yi could only worry helplessly.
He's been busy ever since he came out. He just took over the army, and Chu Wei wasn't there. Several factions had already formed within the army. He had to fight while simultaneously winning people's hearts. He had to guard against both the enemy and himself. Fortunately, a few of his former brothers were still loyal to him and helped him deal with a few who were dividing power and undermining morale, which stabilized the situation.
Then came a three-day offensive and a two-day harassment raid. Every day there were large and small meetings to devise strategies, raise military supplies, and change the defenses. Although they won battles, after each battle, hundreds or thousands of brothers had to be sent away, and he himself suffered countless injuries, both major and minor.
As a general, Yu Guo believed that even if he were to die on the battlefield, wrapped in a horse's hide, he could not retreat even a single step when faced with a formidable enemy.
When he thought of that intelligent and resilient woman, he no longer felt the pain of his many wounds, and his heart softened a little more!
Thinking of Xie Yushu planning to rebuild the house, making tiles, and managing the house inside and out in an orderly manner, he felt that his originally cold and quiet home had become warm and lively, and that he felt the warmth of family for the first time.
Recalling how busy she was, making clothes for them and cooking delicious food for the two little ones, and seeing Xiao Haitang and Chu Jinyu eating with smiles and satisfied expressions, his heart warmed!
Unfortunately, burdened by responsibilities and gratitude to his master, he had to give up the little family he had always dreamed of.
I wonder if his mother made things difficult for her after he left!
He brought the house deed with him when he came out, actually because he was afraid that his mother would take it away and kick Xie Yushu and Haitang out.
Haitang is a girl and has never been favored by her mother. Xie Yushu is a new bride with no children to rely on. Given her mother's temperament, if he doesn't go back for a year or two, she might take over his house and send Xie Yushu back to her parents' home.
As for a divorce? Probably not. Xie Yushu is not weak or incompetent. It's clear that she's just too lazy to bother with trivial matters, but she won't be ambiguous about important things!
Besides, she has Qu Xiaodie by her side and brothers in her family. Xie Yushu is his lawfully wedded wife. His mother can't find the house deed, so she shouldn't be able to forcibly seize his house and drive Xie Yushu away!
Marrying me has really put her in a difficult position!
He often thought that when he returned this time, he would definitely make it up to Xie Yushu.
Since his mother doesn't like him, he doesn't need to stick to the old house in Phoenix Mouth. He can buy a courtyard in town or the prefectural city, and buy a few maids and servants. He can bring Haitang along, and if she wants to bring Qu Xiaodie, they can go together, away from his parents, and live their own little life behind closed doors.
When the time comes, she can choose to open a martial arts school or a medical clinic, it's up to her. Besides, the Chu family has been exonerated, and Chu Jinyu has returned to the Chu family. With Chu Mingzhu taking care of him, he can say that he has lived up to the expectations of his master and Jinyu's parents.
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