"grandfather……"
Xie Chong was startled; this was something that couldn't be said carelessly.
The Prime Minister waved his hand, "It's fortunate that she's a woman. Women are destined to marry. Once married, no matter how outstanding a woman is, she will be confined to a small place, and the princess is no exception."
After the coming-of-age ceremony, His Majesty will choose a consort for Princess Ningding. Before the ceremony, the princess will live in our Xie family residence, which, in a sense, is giving the Xie family an opportunity.
Achong, you and Princess Ningding are old acquaintances. You don't have much of the scholarly air of the Xie family, so you should get along well with the princess. Take advantage of the time she's staying at the mansion to spend more time with her.
"No matter what, a princess is still a girl. Girls are generally easier to please. You should seize the opportunity."
What...what do you mean?
Xie Chong's mind went blank. "Grandfather, do you mean I should go and hang around the princess and try to win her favor?"
That's what I mean!
"Grandfather!" Xie Chong stood up. "No! I can't do it!"
Ever since he was beaten down by Rong Ning, Xie Chong has had a deep-seated aversion to her.
He didn't deny that Rong Ning was outstanding. In the entire Nanyang City, or even the entire Southern Dynasty, he had never seen such a dazzling woman as her, but that didn't mean he could take the initiative to please her.
Moreover, this flattery was aimed at becoming her consort!
No, no, no!!
Xie Chong found the thought terrifying!
Rong Ning has a wild nature. If she sees through his attempts to please him and doesn't appreciate it, or even beats him up, will he fight back or not?
Even if I fight back, can I still win?
These are all problems, okay!
Xie Chong suppressed his frustration and argued logically, "Grandfather... you'd do anything for me, but not this. If the princess wants to choose a husband, and that husband must be from the Xie family, then let any of my brothers in the manor do it. There's no need to make it up to me!"
“Achong…”
The Prime Minister took a deep breath, feeling that some things needed to be explained clearly so that the innocent child could understand the situation.
He asked him seriously, "Now, the only one in the manor who is the same age and status as the princess is you. Your second brother is the same age, but he is born out of wedlock."
Your father has many concubines in his household, and your second brother's birth mother is deeply favored by your father. If your second brother is really favored by the princess, how will your mother cope in the backyard?
"Besides, your second brother is also exceptionally learned; he's not much less knowledgeable than you. If the princess really takes a liking to him, he'll completely overshadow you from now on. Are you willing to accept that?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Chong immediately fell silent.
Outside, everyone envied his noble birth, but inside the mansion, his father always favored his second brother.
In his father's eyes, his marriage to his mother was a marriage between powerful families with conflicts of interest, but genuine affection was rare. He gave his true feelings to his second brother's birth mother and other concubines.
My mother was a woman from a prominent family. She could tolerate a courtyard full of concubines and numerous illegitimate children, and she could also deal with the scheming among the concubines and sisters-in-law. But in the end, she was exhausted. Especially in recent years, as the children of their generation in the mansion gradually grew up, everyone wanted to fight for their children's future prospects, and the competition became even fiercer, which made my mother gradually lose her strength and often fall ill.
Once she fell ill, her sisters-in-law began vying for control of the household again, making her dare not relax for a moment.
Perhaps my grandmother had gone through the same thing and knew my mother's difficulties, so a month ago, at her advanced age, she took over the management of the household from my mother so that my mother could focus on recovering.
As her grandmother's eldest daughter-in-law, her mother was to take over the entire Xie family from her grandmother in the future. Therefore, she knew how to establish her mother's authority, and from then on, the concubines and aunts in the family became much quieter.
But there are still many obstacles, both overt and covert.
On the surface, he and Xizhu were the eldest grandson and eldest granddaughter of the legitimate heir, enjoying immense prestige, but in reality, their life wasn't as glamorous as it seemed.
Xie Chong knew all this before, but he felt it didn't affect anything. His position had never been shaken, so he could ignore it.
But now that your grandfather has brought this up, the most authoritative person in the family is tearing off your fig leaf in front of you, forcing you to comply, making him feel ashamed, angry, and helpless.
Seeing his expression, the Prime Minister sighed again and put his words more clearly and realistically, "Achong... I know you are proud and arrogant, and you feel that it would be an insult to you to try to please the princess in order to become the princess's consort."
But Grandfather tells you that in the near future, our Xie family may face a great calamity. At that time, what awaits you will not be this small humiliation, but the lives of hundreds of people in the entire Xie household!
What about the lives of the hundreds of people in the Xie family?
“Grandfather…” Xie Chong’s heart shattered. “What do you mean by that? Does that mean our Xie family…”
“Achong… The Xie family has reached such a position today, and I, your grandfather, was able to smoothly transition from the late emperor's rule to His Majesty's, and even sit in the position of prime minister. How could I possibly have been completely clean from beginning to end…”
Moreover, His Majesty is currently harboring some doubts about the Xie family because the implementation of the new policies is facing obstacles.
“But grandfather, you are a subject, and His Majesty is the ruler. If he wants to implement new policies, you can just follow His Majesty, just like the Chu family. What’s wrong with that?”
Xie Chong didn't understand...
As a subject, why should you go against the imperial power?
Throughout history, what good has ever come of those who have gone against imperial power?
The Prime Minister smiled bitterly, “How could I not want to follow the Emperor’s wishes? But I have reached this position today, and the relationships behind me are deeply intertwined. These relationships are maintained by interests, and the new policies implemented by His Majesty will harm my interests and those of the network of relationships behind me.”
Achong, if there had been a way out, Grandfather would have retreated long ago, and wouldn't be caught in the middle, in such a dilemma!
Xie Chong gave up. "But if we can't back down, what's the point of Grandfather sending his grandson to curry favor with the princess?"
"It may not be of much use, but it is a glimmer of hope. At this time, His Majesty sent Princess Ningding to the residence to warn our Xie family, but it can also be considered as giving us a chance."
Princess Ningding holds a special place in the hearts of His Majesty and the Crown Prince. They may not listen to others, but they will still consider Princess Ningding's words.
If you catch the princess's eye, in the future…
The Prime Minister paused, looked at Xie Chong, and said quietly, "If you can win the princess's favor, when the Xie family is about to fall, your grandfather will do everything in his power to beg Princess Ningding to save you and preserve a bloodline for the Xie family!"
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