As the emperor listened to her detailed explanation, he began to consider his options. Previously, he had never considered Xie Chong as a potential consort.
But now that I think about it, it really was quite suitable.
but...
The emperor looked at Rong Ning and said, "Considering the current situation, Xie Chong is indeed a suitable candidate, but this would inevitably be a disservice to you!"
“Father…you’re overthinking it…” Rong Ning smiled faintly. “With my temperament, few of the men in Nanyang City can tolerate this. Even if they can keep it on the surface, it’s only because of my status as a princess that they have to swallow their anger. In the long run, they will definitely harbor resentment.”
But Xie Chong is different. Given his dire circumstances, for me to make him my son-in-law was a great favor. Furthermore, my taking him away from Nanyang City further protected him from trouble. He should be grateful to me.”
The main reason is that Xie Chong, who has no family backing, is easy to manipulate. Without family support and having signed a contract, he has no independent identity. Whatever happens in the future, Xie Chong will have no power to resist her.
If her chosen husband were any scion of a prominent family in Nanyang City, none of them could achieve these two things.
Of course, I can't tell my father about these things.
Rong Ning observed the emperor's reaction, seeing that he was genuinely considering the feasibility of the matter. She quickly seized the opportunity, rose, knelt down, and earnestly said, "Father, my choice of Xie Chong as my consort is not entirely based on considerations of the court situation. In the end, Xie Chong is the only person in the entire Nanyang City with whom I have a deep connection. I understand his character to some extent, and he will not harm me."
As you said before, no matter who I choose as my consort, you will help me. Therefore, I beg you, Father, to grant me and Xie Chong a marriage!
The emperor remained silent...
A long silence...
Ke Rongning knelt upright, neither humble nor arrogant, with an air of "If you disagree, I'll kneel here and die today."
The emperor took a deep breath, looked at Rong Ning, and said seriously, "You have always been decisive since you were a child. Once you've made up your mind, nothing can change it. I suppose this is also the case with making Xie Chong your consort."
Even so, as your father, I still need to ask you one more time: Have you really thought this through?
"Father... Your Majesty, I have thought it through very clearly. Please grant my request!"
"Very well..." the emperor said, his feelings complicated. "Then it's as you wish!"
Upon hearing this, Rong Ning bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your grace, Father Emperor!"
"Get up..." the emperor sighed as he pulled her up.
He never imagined that Rong Ning's marriage would be arranged in this way, and judging from her current behavior, she had no illusions about love and marriage.
This doesn't fit the mindset of a girl her age.
The emperor didn't know whether to feel fortunate or sad.
Having achieved the result she wanted, Rong Ning left the palace happily without any regrets, and didn't even return to Zhaoqing Palace.
The gifts from each family for the coming-of-age ceremony had already been returned to the princess's residence. Rong Ning returned to the princess's residence and took out the gifts her elder sister had sent from Da Jing separately. As for the others, she had the steward of the residence make a list and put them into the treasury.
The gift my older sister sent this time was a gold hairpin, a very exquisite gold hairpin, with a letter attached to the bottom.
Rong Ning opened it and slowly began to read it.
“Ah Ning, in the past when I wrote to you, I felt like I had so much to say, and I wished I could tell you everything that happened to me every day. But this time, I don’t know what to say.”
Maybe it's because I still can't accept that my darling Aning has really grown up. After all, in my mind, you are still that little girl who would hug my arm and beg me to buy you candy. Those scenes seem like they happened just yesterday.
But when you return to reality, you find that those things happened a long time ago.
Since you went to Linghua Temple, my sisters and I have seen each other less and less. When Mother passed away, she said she would take care of you and help you grow up, but it seems that my elder sister did not do so, because you are stronger than my elder sister, so strong that you do not need anyone to take care of you.
I am often delighted to have such an outstanding younger sister. Even though you are often not in Nanyang City, I always talk about you to the girls at banquets, even though they don't know enough about you and can't understand how outstanding you are.
Sigh... I've gone off on a tangent!
Let's get back to the main topic...
Ah Ning... I wanted to congratulate you on your coming-of-age ceremony, but considering that a woman's coming-of-age ceremony means she has to prepare to become a wife, I feel there's no need for congratulations.
But if you think about it carefully, you are not bound by worldly constraints and have your own means of making a living. Whether you get married or not, it doesn't really matter to you.
So, coming-of-age ceremony is a special day for you, but it's also just an ordinary day. Since that's the case, I don't need to dwell on it.
At this point, I am especially grateful to Master Feiyun for raising you to be the person you are today; she has truly taught you very well.
Ah Ning, your older sister sincerely congratulates you on becoming an adult. Adults can do many things, so Ah Ning can finally do whatever she wants without worry.
Thinking of this made my older sister very happy.
As for your coming-of-age ceremony, your elder sister thought for a long time but couldn't figure out what to give you. When she left the Southern Dynasty, she gave you all her property, so you have no shortage of money. You were born into the royal family and have seen all the good things in the world, but you don't care for them.
After thinking it over, I'll give you a gold hairpin. I drew the design myself and then specially found a craftsman to learn how to make it.
It's not anything valuable, but it was made by my older sister herself. It took me a whole month to make, and I ruined countless attempts before I finally made this one that looks pretty good.
In the past, my sister would never have had this much free time, but after arriving in Dajing, she found that she had so much time to kill every day, and then she could do the things she wanted to do but didn't have time for before.
It's pretty good!
Ah Ning... I know you've always worried about me, afraid I'll suffer in Dajing, but I'm really doing fine, you don't need to worry about me all the time.
Alright... Enough with the nonsense, Ah Ning. From now on, as you grow up, live a life as bright and sunny as the spring sun. Only then can your older sister rest assured!
Finally, the older sister hoped that Aning would take good care of herself. To her, nothing in this world is as important as Aning!
...
The letter her elder sister wrote wasn't long, but it brought tears to Rong Ning's eyes. She picked up the gold hairpin and examined it closely, already able to imagine the earnest look on her elder sister's face as she made it.
Her older sister... is the best person in the world.
Rong Ning took a deep breath, composed herself, and carefully put away the gold hairpin and the letter.
The matter in Nanyang City is almost over. Rong Ning needs to seize every opportunity to get what she wants and then return to the Northern Border as soon as possible.
It was Rong Ning himself who proposed that Xie Chong become Rong Ning's consort. The emperor also thought it was entirely feasible, so a few days later, he issued an imperial edict to bestow the marriage upon them.
He hadn't consulted with his ministers beforehand, so this was clearly a bolt from the blue.
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