Chapter 149: Forcible Seizure

Chapter 149: Forcible Seizure

Snatch the royal son-in-law?

Qiu Huanian's brow jerked. The Azure Phoenix Lord spoke so casually, as if he were just catching a little bird in the birdhouse.

Seriously, just block the road and snatch someone? Qiu Huanian was rarely this shocked, momentarily at a loss for words.

Even in modern times, no one would dare to grab a boyfriend in the middle of the street!

"Your master is pregnant, stay with him in the carriage and keep calm. After I snatch the royal son-in-law, we’ll enter the palace," the Azure Phoenix Lord said to Xing Mi.

Then he jumped off the carriage, turned, and mounted the snow-white horse beside the carriage. He tapped the whip's handle against his palm, waiting leisurely.

The Azure Phoenix Lord's luxurious carriage blocked the entrance to Chang'an East Gate, directly blocking everyone's path into the palace.

Qiu Huanian sat in the carriage, peeking out through the curtain. It was the busiest time for the nobles arriving at the imperial city for the banquet. In no time, a large number of carriages and horses were stopped outside Chang'an East Gate.

To go around the imperial city and enter from Chang'an West Gate would take half an hour, making it impossible to arrive on time.

Moreover, as they approached, they discovered the gate was blocked by the Azure Phoenix Lord's carriage. Turning their carriages around now might get them in trouble with the lord.

Seeing the gate blocked, the guards and minor officials of Chang'an East Gate hurried over, pleading with the Azure Phoenix Lord for an explanation.

The Azure Phoenix Lord, sitting on his horse, lazily tilted his chin and said, "Don’t worry, I’m waiting here to take care of something. Once it’s done, I’ll leave."

The minor officials could only retreat with bitter faces, sending someone immediately into the imperial city to report to the corresponding eunuch in charge of ceremonies.

After the Yuanhua Emperor seized the throne, he either killed or placed his siblings under house arrest, with only Prince Pingxian and the Azure Phoenix Lord as exceptions.

Among these two exceptions, the Azure Phoenix Lord was the most notable.

The Azure Phoenix Lord's mother was a low-ranking tribute woman from the Western Regions who had looked after the young Yuanhua Emperor in the palace. The emperor, in return, was very fond of this younger brother who could almost be his son, granting him almost anything he wanted.

If an ordinary prince or noble made a mistake, the Imperial Clan Court would report it to the emperor, the censors would impeach him in court, and political enemies from different factions would take the chance to attack.

But for the Azure Phoenix Lord, this didn’t apply.

His mother was a tribute woman from the Western Regions, with no maternal family to share honor or disgrace, and no close siblings to be affected. He spent his days searching for immortality and traveling, making it impossible for anyone to find a weakness to exploit.

As long as the Yuanhua Emperor wasn’t angered, even if the Azure Phoenix Lord burned down Chang'an East Gate, no one could touch him.

Qiu Huanian lived close to Chang'an East Gate, so they arrived early and successfully blocked a large number of nobles who needed to enter the imperial city through Chang'an East Gate.

Those who were blocked secretly cursed the Azure Phoenix Lord for his arrogance and rudeness.

But no matter how much they disliked his behavior, not one dared to openly challenge him. They could only have their servants park their carriages by the roadside and see what this lord was doing.

After blocking the road for a full quarter of an hour, the Azure Phoenix Lord noticed several carriages approaching from the east end of Chang'an Street. A dangerous smile curled his lips.

He flicked the reins, making his horse take a few steps forward. People and carriages on both sides quickly moved aside, forming a large circle.

Qiu Huanian also leaned his head against the carriage window, holding his breath, carefully watching the "show" outside.

He was naturally fond of gossip and excitement, and being able to witness such a sensational event up close was thrilling.

Xing Mi, with his carefree nature, seeing his master so excited, cast aside all his previous worries and leaned his little head next to Qiu Huanian to look outside together.

"Township Lord, Township Lord, who do you think the Azure Phoenix Lord is going to snatch as the royal son-in-law?"

"I don’t know, but it’s probably someone from those carriages. We’ve got the best seats in the house, so watch closely!"

When the targeted carriages realized something was amiss, the coachmen had already driven them into the circle.

Azure Phoenix Lord lightly squeezed his horse's flank with his calves, precisely controlling his horse to the front of the carriages.

Among the onlookers, someone recognized who these carriages belonged to.

"Seems like they belong to the Xie family, Consort Ying’s maternal relatives."

"For this palace banquet, Consort Ying's mother and sister-in-law, both with titles of nobility, are sure to attend. Their family has three officials in the capital above the fifth rank, and there’s also Xie Tanhua, the newly appointed Tanhua from the Hanlin Academy..."

"I heard Prince Jin has been making big moves lately. Is Azure Phoenix Lord acting on behalf of the Crown Prince?"

"Even if he humiliates the Xie family, what can he achieve? Bravery without strategy accomplishes nothing."

...

Azure Phoenix Lord rode his horse to the front of the carriages, moving left and right like a dangerous leopard eyeing its prey.

"Your Highness, what is this about?"

"Snap!—"

Azure Phoenix Lord whipped off the hat of a Xie family servant, sneering, "Where did this ill-mannered dog come from, barking? Tell Jie Tanguang to get down here."

"..."

After a brief silence, the curtain of the last carriage moved, and the newly appointed Tanhua, Jie Tanguang, alighted from the carriage.

He wore the official robe of a seventh-rank Hanlin Academy editor, a leather belt cinching his waist. His demeanor was as serene as the moonlight, his figure slender and upright, his handsome face reminiscent of the legendary beauty He Lang, with a powdered appearance.

Jie Tanguang lowered his gaze, his expression calm and composed. Without looking at the arrogant figure on horseback, he followed protocol and clasped his hands in a respectful salute.

"Jie Tanguang pays his respects to Azure Phoenix Lord."

Azure Phoenix Lord let out a cryptic chuckle. His horse brushed so close to Jie Tanguang that it almost touched him. When the distance between them was at its narrowest, he suddenly reached out with the handle of his whip to lift Jie Tanguang's chin, teasingly.

He squinted, scrutinizing him closely.

"Tsk tsk, they say a Tanhua must have a handsome face, and indeed, Xie Tanhua is quite good-looking, even better than the top courtesan of Chunfeng Tower, a famous pleasure house in the capital."

"..."

To compare a Tanhua, a respected scholar of the Hanlin Academy, to such a place was utterly blasphemous and disgraceful, a true insult to his dignity!

Azure Phoenix Lord could imagine how the onlookers were cursing him in their hearts, but he didn’t care.

Born to a tribute woman from the Western Regions, he was inherently unworthy in their eyes, and he had no desire to be considered worthy.

Azure Phoenix Lord felt a twinge of satisfaction, even a bit of delight, thinking about how the aristocratic families hated him to the core but could do nothing about it.

He raised the sharp corner of his lips, his striking features glowing brilliantly in that moment, his beauty shining through.

The handle of his whip swayed up and down, gently scratching Jie Tanguang's smooth, elegant jawline.

"Such a pretty face, wasted as a seventh-rank official. Why not follow me and become a first-rank consort? No need to toil away at the yamen. Serve me well, and you’ll have all you could ever want."

His voice was low, with a playful lilt at the end, making his venomous words oddly enticing.

Jie Tanguang inhaled sharply and attempted to retreat, but Azure Phoenix Lord raised his eyebrows, and his whip swiftly grazed Jie Tanguang's body, the sharp crack of the whip jolting everyone into stunned silence.

"Jie Tanguang, I suggest you accept the toast now, or you’ll be forced to drink the penalty later."

The rest of the Jie family could no longer hold back and stepped out of their carriages.

"Your Highness Azure Phoenix Lord, it’s outrageous for you to block the road and humiliate an imperial official on His Majesty's birthday. Aren’t you worried about angering His Majesty and Lady Ying?"

Azure Phoenix Lord glanced at the Jie family matriarch, dressed in her first-rank ceremonial robes, and sneered.

"Insult? I’m simply looking to take a husband. Today is my royal brother's birthday, wouldn’t it be fitting to double the celebration?"

"Or are you suggesting that the Jie family, a noble and prestigious clan, is more esteemed than the royal family, and that having Jie Tanguang marry me would be an insult to him?"

"..." The Jie matriarch hadn't expected Azure Phoenix Lord to be so sharp-tongued, twisting the truth so brazenly.

As the saying goes, "royal power ebbs and flows, but noble families stand firm for centuries." The Jie family, deeply rooted since the previous dynasty, was inherently proud, and Azure Phoenix Lord's words weren't entirely baseless.

However, the current emperor on the throne was not the aging and feeble former emperor who relied on noble families, but the Yuanhua Emperor.

Even if the Jie matriarch truly looked down on Azure Phoenix Lord in her heart, she didn’t dare let it show.

Having weathered many storms as a matriarch of a noble family, she quickly found the right words, "Young Tanguang is but a lowly weed, unworthy of Your Highness’s golden and jade-like stature."

Azure Phoenix Lord crossed his arms, as if watching a joke, "But I’ve had my fill of gold and jade. I’d rather cultivate wildflowers and weeds."

The wife of Jie Tanguang's uncle, standing beside the matriarch, forced a smile, "We’re grateful for your attention, Your Highness, but Tanguang has already been engaged and plans to marry formally after autumn. Surely, Your Highness wouldn’t disrupt his marriage plans?"

Azure Phoenix Lord smirked, "Are you referring to the third daughter of the Chi family from Jiangnan? But as I recall, your families haven’t even exchanged birth charts or betrothal gifts. Since there's no formal engagement, how can you speak of ruining a marriage?"

He leaned forward again, lifting Jie Tanguang's chin, and declared from his high position, "Everything follows the principle of first come, first served. I was the one who made my intentions public. Anyone who dares to set their sights on Jie Tanguang and ruin my marriage will face the full wrath of my household."

"..."

The Jie family simmered with rage, barely restraining their curses. Azure Phoenix Lord had clearly done his homework and came fully prepared.

Qiu Huanian, seated in the ideal spot to observe the spectacle, finally pieced it together.

When he first saw Azure Phoenix Lord blocking the road to claim Jie Tanguang as his consort, Qiu Huanian had been puzzled. But after hearing their exchange, he grasped the motive.

Jie Tanguang, as a direct descendant of the Jie family, had earned the prestigious title of top scholar by his twenties. The Jie family had invested heavily in him, and barring any setbacks, he was poised for a meteoric rise in his career, becoming the leading figure of his generation in the Jie family.

However, to prevent the interference of in-laws in state affairs, the Yu Dynasty decreed that imperial consorts could not hold high-ranking or influential posts. If Jie Tanguang truly became a consort, he would only hold a nominal first-rank title, completely forfeiting any chance to make a mark in the political arena.

Azure Phoenix Lord, raised by the late empress, had staunchly supported the Crown Prince during the succession struggle. If Jie Tanguang became his consort, it would drive an insurmountable wedge between him and Prince Jin, as well as the Jie family who supported Prince Jin.

Furthermore, the Jie family's planned alliance with the Chi family of Jiangnan would also be shattered.

Azure Phoenix Lord’s brazen ‘antics’ had single-handedly derailed the Jie family’s plans and Jie Tanguang's future.

Only he could do this, because he was sufficiently favored by the emperor, sufficiently fearless, and sufficiently unashamed.

Ignoring the Jie family's livid expressions, Azure Phoenix Lord leisurely urged, "Today is my royal brother's birthday. Don’t clog the road and waste everyone’s time."

"I suggest Jie Tanguang skip the front court and ride with me to the inner court to seek His Majesty's blessing for our marriage."

Azure Phoenix Lord leaned down from his horse, meeting Jie Tanguang's evasive gaze, and softly blew a breath.

The faint breath sent a shiver through Jie Tanguang, who closed his eyes in resignation.

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice delivered the final ultimatum.

"Why delay when today is ideal? There's no better day than His Majesty's birthday. Tonight, I’ll throw a banquet at my estate and welcome Jie Tanguang into my household. What do you say?"