Chapter 120: Unwilling to Marry

Chapter 120: Unwilling to Marry

"Years have passed, and the Consort shines even brighter. It's no wonder her favor remains unchallenged," Lady Xie remarked in the carriage on the return journey, helping her mother-in-law, Lady Yan of Yan State, recline against an autumn-fragrance cushion.

In this carriage, only she was accompanying her mother-in-law, while her sister-in-law, Lady Chen, was sent to another carriage to look after several young ladies.

Lady Yan, fatigued, closed her eyes without responding. If not for her daughter's dying wish that no Xu family woman should become a concubine, and the Emperor's declaration that even imperial concubines are considered concubines, she would have preferred to send her granddaughters, such as the tenth or twelfth daughter, to the imperial harem as concubines or consorts, especially since the Emperor was in his prime.

Having enjoyed the extravagant privileges of being related to the royal family, they were reluctant to let go of such wealth and status.

The Emperor assured her that the Xu family's fortunes would not be cut off in this generation,

But the future was uncertain. While she was alive, things were stable. But should she pass away, including her eldest son Xu Kang, their influence with the Emperor would be limited.

Currently, with Zhu Yan as the favored consort, the Zhu family's prosperity was visibly on the rise, even though her father remained a commoner, having withdrawn from public life in recent years. The Emperor had repeatedly declared Zhu Yan's virtue publicly, refusing to elevate her family members.

However, citing reasons of honoring the venerable and extending kindness to relatives, the Emperor frequently bestowed favors upon the Zhu family. Zhu Yan's mother, Lady Lu, though a concubine, was titled Lady of Guangde County. Zhu Yan's third and fourth sisters married into prestigious families, each granted the title of county lady, a thousand strings of cash, and a thousand bolts of silk on their wedding day. Now, suitors were lining up for Zhu Yan's third brother.

The Zhu family's influence was palpable.

The influence of the imperial in-laws in the dynasty was always rising.

From the Hua, Yang, Chen, and Deng families to now the Xu family, and perhaps the Zhu family in the future.

Lady Yan opened her eyes and looked at Lady Xie, "Speak your mind directly about what you wanted to say."

Lady Xie called out softly to her husband before cautiously beginning, "It seems to me that the Consort seems to favor her sixth sister more."

"Whether it's the sixth lady or the third lady, they are both young ladies of the Xu family. The third lady is your own granddaughter, and it's natural for you to have a soft spot for her. But in such significant matters, as the head of the family, you must not show favoritism," Lady Yan of Yan State admonished, her tone quite stern.

Lady Xie, frightened by the reprimand, turned pale and hastily defended, "I dare not, nor would I ever be partial in this matter. Whichever girl is chosen, it will be a joyous occasion for the Xu family, and I can only be happy about it."

"As long as you understand,"

"Lady Yan of the Yan State reminded, 'The Xu family owes its wealth and status to the grace of the late Empress Dowager. Remember, the entire Xu family is united as one.'"

"I will certainly bear it in mind," Lady Xie hurriedly responded, feeling relieved that she didn't keep Lady Chen, her sister-in-law, around. It would have been too embarrassing. Even though her grandson was about to get married, she still dared not relax in front of her mother-in-law.

To convince her mother-in-law, Lady Xie had to explain, "It's a great honor that the Imperial Consort likes Liuniang. But I just remembered that Afan, the wife of our eldest son, has visited Empress Liu several times in the palace and met Lady Su. Lady Su is very fond of Sanniang. At yesterday's banquet, she even told Afan that she wanted to propose Sanniang as a bride for the Eighth Prince."

"The Eighth Prince is younger than Sanniang."

"He is three years younger, but Lady Su said, 'A woman three years older, embracing a golden brick.' Seeing no displeasure on her mother-in-law's face, Lady Xie continued, 'I was thinking, since the Imperial Consort favors Liuniang for the Fourth Prince, perhaps Sanniang could be matched with the Eighth Prince.'"

"Ever since the Eighth Prince started his studies in the imperial study, he's been known for his intelligence and humility, with a gentle and amiable character. He's quite popular in the palace. Moreover, Lady Su is very fond of Sanniang, who is always called to her side during palace visits. She once said she wished she had a daughter like Sanniang."

After listening, Lady Yan of the Yan State commented lightly, "She does have good taste."

She shook her head and added, "Unfortunately, she lacks favor. Among the current seven princes, except for the Third Prince whose mother committed an offense, the mothers of the other six are all of ninth rank or higher. Only she is a fourth-rank lady. I vaguely heard from Chongyang that she fell out of favor because she offended Consort Zhu."

"Let's not provoke the Imperial Consort's displeasure," Lady Yan of the Yan State advised further. "Tell Afan, next time Sanniang is summoned by Lady Su during a palace visit, she should find an excuse to decline."

Lady Xie felt it was a pity too, but she agreed.

Meanwhile, in the Qixing Palace.

After Lady Yan of the Yan State left, the emperor went to the Yaoguang Hall. Hearing from Zhu Yan that she preferred the Xu family's little Liuniang, he laughed at her lack of taste.

"Sanniang is indeed beautiful, but she clearly looks pampered and assertive. Do you think your son can tolerate her temperament?" Zhu Yan rolled her eyes at him. She knew her own son well. With her son Ajie's stubborn and domineering nature, he was just like the emperor himself.

"Two spoiled and wilful children clashing would be more terrifying than a meteor hitting the earth."

"I know my son well, and he definitely prefers beauty. Sanniang stands out the most in a crowd."

The emperor, not wanting to shortchange his son and noting Sanniang's resemblance to his late wife, was more indulgent towards this young girl from the Xu family. He persisted, "Sanniang is bold and lively; perhaps Ajie likes that. You said it yourself, it's important for Ajie to be happy. Why not let them spend time together first? There's no rush to arrange a marriage."

Zhu Yan, not wanting to argue with the emperor, acquiesced since there was no immediate marriage arrangement, "As you wish."

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month arrived, marking the Lantern Festival.

On the evening of the festival, Zhu Yan, as usual, didn't attend the lantern viewing at Chengtian Gate. Having experienced it a few times in disguise with the emperor in previous years, the novelty had worn off. She stayed in and summoned Qingping, now an attendant, to her warm pavilion to talk about lantern festivals she had seen in other places.

Eventually, Zhu Yan casually asked, "Do you still want to leave the palace?"

Qingping, once a Taoist hermit and now a palace attendant, was taken aback by the question, "Would you really let me leave the palace?"

"Of course, I would," Zhu Yan replied with a smile.

Qingping was slightly tempted but cautious, "What's your condition?"

"Take me with you secretly, to Xiangdong."

Qingping was shocked and gasped, staring at Zhu Yan, "Aren't you afraid I'll tell the emperor?"

"Go ahead and tell him," Zhu Yan replied nonchalantly with a smile, "If you do, guess whether he'd punish me or you?"

Qingping thought to himself that it would most likely be him who'd be punished.

To be precise, not just likely, but certain. In the emperor's eyes, if he were executed, no one would be able to take the empress out, effectively nipping the problem in the bud.

Since Empress Zhu moved from Dayu Palace to Qixing Palace, she brought Qingping along with her. Being closer, he saw more clearly how deeply favored she was by the Emperor, enjoying exclusive and profound imperial affection, epitomizing the saying: 'She monopolizes the Emperor's love, making all other concubines pale in comparison.'

Dayu Palace had become a virtual non-entity, with palace servants and eunuchs vying to be transferred to Qixing Palace.

In such a scenario, even if he reported to the Emperor, it wouldn't be Empress Zhu who would be blamed, but himself. Secretly taking Empress Zhu out of the palace would be even more scandalous. Though he longed to leave the palace, he dared not agree impulsively, "I need to think about it."

"Take your time, I'm not in a hurry," Zhu Yan replied. She had plenty of time and patience.

Qingping left the warm pavilion of Yaoguang Hall with a heavy heart.

Zhu Yan watched his retreating figure, sighing deeply. She had gambled correctly; like her, Qingping wasn't blinded by the luxuries of palace life and longed to leave.

The Emperor was very good to her.

However, the vast difference in their ideologies was like an insurmountable chasm, impossible to bridge. Their current harmony was merely the result of multiple confrontations and temporary compromises from both sides. And such a compromise could be ended by the Emperor at any time.

She didn’t know when she would reach her breaking point.

"Your Highness is back." Zhu Yan heard a palace servant's call from outside, followed by a gust of cold wind entering the warm pavilion. Looking up, she saw her son Aji rushing in hurriedly.

Zhu Yan quickly set aside her thoughts and asked, "What happened?" As she spoke, she noticed the nail marks on her son's left cheek, still with traces of dried blood. Alarmed, she asked, "Who did you fight with to get scratched like this?"

Zhu Yan hurriedly had Aji sit beside her and examined the nail marks under the light; one was deep and the other shallow. The deeper mark had even scraped off a layer of skin. As she reached to touch it, Aji cried out in pain, "Mother, be gentle."

Feeling pained for her son, Zhu Yan frowned and instructed Qu Gu to fetch hot water, "Aji, bear with the pain a little. I'll clean the wound properly and then apply some ointment." The palace had ointments ready for stopping bleeding, pain relief, preventing wound infection, and even for scar removal.

Aji glanced around and asked, "Has Father not returned yet?"

"Not yet."

"Let's not clean it yet. Wait for Father to return and let him see it before cleaning."

"Stop being ridiculous," Zhu Yan scolded, then stared at him in shock, "What are you planning to do?"

"Let Father see how his son was scratched by a crazy girl. I don’t want to marry that crazy girl from the Xu family. Let my eighth brother, who has the patience to appease her, marry her," Zhang Ji huffed in anger.

"You fought with a girl?" Zhu Yan immediately reached up to grab her son's ear.

Zhang Ji quickly grabbed his mother's hand, crying out in pain, "Mother, it hurts, let go!"

Zhu Yan gave his ear a firm tug, making her son cry out, before letting go and reprimanding, "Aji, you’re becoming quite the bully, raising your hand against a young girl."

Holding his reddened ear, Zhang Ji grimaced in pain, "Mother, I’m your son, I’m the one who was injured."

He always felt that the older he got, the harsher his mother became towards him.

"Sit still," Zhu Yan ordered, ignoring her son's complaints. When Qu Gu brought in warm water, Zhu Yan carefully cleaned his wound. She had been harsh when pulling his ear, but was gentle when washing the wound. It was important to maintain appearances, even with her son.

Her dear son's face was marred, and there was nowhere to cry about it.

The third daughter of the Xu family had quite a heavy hand. It was the first time, at the age of eleven, that Aji had encountered someone daring to lay hands on him.

After applying ointment to her son's wound, Zhu Yan dismissed the servants and looked at her son, asking, "Tell me, how did you provoke the young lady from the Xu family?"

"Why do you assume I provoked her? It's not like she didn't..." Zhang Ji began indignantly, but upon meeting his mother's stern gaze, quickly changed his tone, "I’m saying it's okay, but Mother, you have to help me tell Father that I won’t marry that crazy girl from the Xu family."

Author's note:

"That's all for today's update, kisses, and wishing everyone a happy National Day~~~"