Chapter 50 Crown Prince’s Forced Marriage with You

Chapter 50: The Crown Prince's Forced Affection

Lou Han thought it, and so he did it.

By the time the Empress Dowager arrived, she saw this scene: her usually aloof and noble son, with a familiar figure standing behind him.

She looked several times, her expression uncertain and suspicious.

It was only then that she confirmed the person was indeed Lou Han, who had been missing for so long.

Lou Han had practically grown up before her eyes. She had seen him and her son grow up together in a relationship of ruler and minister, of "brotherly affection and respect." How could she have ever imagined a day like this would come! Two children who had never crossed any boundaries were now involved in such an improper affair.

Her son didn't want this childhood companion's life; he wanted the person himself!

The Empress Dowager's gaze was scorching. Even from behind Xi Jingqi, Lou Han could feel that gaze tightly fixed upon him.

His face flushed slightly. He kept his eyes downcast, not looking at the Empress Dowager, and instead tugged at Xi Jingqi's left sleeve, gesturing for him to speak.

But Xi Jingqi's right hand slid down along the sleeve, his knuckles distinct as he grasped Lou Han's wrist.

Lou Han had, quite naturally, hidden behind Xi Jingqi.

And then, just as naturally, came this grasp.

After his hand was seized, he still hadn't figured out Xi Jingqi's intention. He looked bewildered at Xiao Jing.

But Xi Jingqi didn't even glance at him. He stood there with noble bearing, looking at the newcomer without uttering a word.

The ministers seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, as if they'd found their backbone again. They hurriedly turned towards the hall entrance and bowed to the hastily arrived Empress Dowager.

"Long live the Empress Dowager! Ten thousand years!"

"Your Majesty!" The Empress Dowager hadn't come here to see these ministers. Her eyes immediately fell upon Xi Jingqi holding Lou Han's hand.

Her eyelids gave a violent twitch.

This was the first time she had seen Lou Han in many days.

But she remembered all too clearly what Lou Han had been like before. A child who could truly be described as gentle, proper, and well-mannered.

That's why he had served as a study companion beside her particular son for over a decade, and her son had been very fond of him.

But she had never imagined that her son would develop such feelings for this child.

When news reached the palace that the new Emperor was summoning the former court to discuss making Lou Han the Empress, she was completely stunned.

So she rushed over immediately.

But the scene she arrived to see struck her as odd.

She was still standing right here, yet Lou Han was hiding behind her son, tugging at him. The act was far too intimate.

Was it possible he genuinely wanted to stay by the Emperor's side and become this Empress?

She knew her own son well. Outwardly, he usually appeared proper, upright, and noble, but inwardly, he was a very unhinged and extreme person.

So when her son confined Lou Han in the side palace, she believed it was his one-sided action. At that time, she still felt she had wronged Lou Han. Now, hearing that Xi Jingqi wanted to make Lou Han Empress, she automatically assumed before coming that it was also just Xi Jingqi's one-sided proposal, having caught hold of the ministers' faults, merely a sign of him becoming increasingly deranged.

Before coming, she thought that once she arrived, she would only need to face and stop her son. Lou Han, upon seeing her, should be eagerly and joyfully turning to her.

Lou Han felt the atmosphere at that moment was frozen.

It was quiet all around. The Empress Dowager hadn't permitted the ministers to rise. He could sense that gaze still resting on him.

And Xi Jingqi merely held his hand, not speaking. The atmosphere was so tense he wanted to immediately withdraw his hand from Xiao Jing's grasp, but Xi Jingqi's grip was surprisingly strong.

He lowered his head, submitting to the hold, growing increasingly awkward. He couldn't figure out what Xiao Jing was thinking. Did he want to confront his mother head-on?

Yes, that's right, Mother, I've become a homosexual. I just want to take a man as my Empress.

Since he really couldn't pull his hand free, he gave up.

He could only sneak a glance at the Empress Dowager's expression.

He saw a woman who bore a resemblance to Xi Jingqi, dignified and elegant, with majestic bearing. Compared to her status, her attire was rather simple and plain, and she carried the scent of sandalwood as if she had just come from the Buddha hall. Yet no one dared to look down on her, for she was the most exalted woman in the imperial court, the Emperor's mother.

Then he felt the Empress Dowager's expression was a bit strange.

He initially thought the Empress Dowager would immediately reprimand them.

But the Empress Dowager's gaze swept over to Xi Jingqi's face, met his calm expression, and then her own expression shifted several times.

Ultimately, it settled into calm composure.

The Empress Dowager's expression finally became very composed as she looked at him several more times. Her expression didn't change again. This noble woman, without showing any emotion, composed herself for a moment, then looked towards the ministers in the center of the hall.

"All ministers, please rise."

"This grieving mother merely had urgent matters to discuss with the Emperor. Hearing in the rear palace that His Majesty was holding court discussions, I grew anxious and hurried over."

The Empress Dowager's words were very tactful. She didn't say she had come upon hearing Xi Jingqi was discussing the matter of establishing an Empress here. Instead, she said she had matters to discuss with him. Firstly, she didn't want to tear apart the surface decorum—if it became a big scene, the news might spread. Secondly, she still didn't fully understand Xi Jingqi's exact thoughts and wanted to probe his intentions further.

Thirdly, she had come to see Xi Jingqi also regarding last night's assassination attempt.

Xi Jingqi finally turned his head to look at Lou Han.

At this moment, everyone's gazes were openly fixed here.

Xi Jingqi finally spoke. His demeanor was clearly refined and gentle, smiling slightly as he said to Lou Han, "There are indeed some matters I should discuss with the Empress Dowager."

"Since that's the case, A-Han, you may go to the side palace first."

The side palace again.

Lou Han, without showing any emotion, slowly retrieved his hand.

He felt his face was very stiff. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he tried his utmost to pretend nothing was amiss as he withdrew his hand, then slowly and leisurely uttered a "Yes."

Xi Jingqi, the Empress Dowager, and these few ministers discussed for a long time. The specific content was unknown to Lou Han in the side palace.

That Minister Li from earlier had been dealt with. If the Emperor wished, many could be implicated.

But Xi Jingqi had no intention of continuing the inquiries further.

It must be said, this made everyone breathe another sigh of relief.

The Emperor kept the Prime Minister and the Empress Dowager to discuss the matter. Everyone else left. Finally, even the Prime Minister went out, leaving only the Empress Dowager inside the room.

The Prime Minister, after considering Xi Jingqi's demeanor, complied and departed.

After the Prime Minister had left as well, a dead silence fell.

This mother and son were once of one flesh and blood.

But the Empress Dowager realized that at some point, she had ceased to understand what her son was thinking, and even felt a twinge of fear when looking at him. Perhaps this feeling had existed for a very, very long time... back when Xi Jingqi was still young.

Xi Jingqi and the Empress Dowager sat facing each other across a small table.

This dignified woman's imposing aura also seemed to diminish somewhat.

Since the late emperor's funeral, this was the first time the Empress Dowager had seen her son.

The palace attendants immediately knelt, but Xi Jingqi raised his hand to stop them.

The Empress Dowager looked up at her son, seeing that Xi Jingqi still had that calm and indifferent expression. The corners of his lips curved slightly as he explained, "A-Han likes green tea, so I had it all replaced."

The Empress Dowager fell silent.

Xi Jingqi gazed at her, his fingers lightly tapping on the table.

After a long while, she spoke softly, "Has Your Majesty decided?"

Upon hearing this, Xi Jingqi pondered for a moment, then nodded.

He shifted his gaze elsewhere.

The Empress Dowager followed his line of sight, her eyes landing on the adjacent side hall. It was only separated by one room, but the palace was so vast, the distance was considerable. On Xi Jingqi's orders, the palace attendants had opened all the doors in between, connecting the two rooms.

That was where Lou Han was.

Just like them, Lou Han was also seated at a table, eating the small pastries the attendants had served.

Lou Han was eating a pastry with great focus, his head bowed, not looking up. Due to the distance, he appeared like a hazy, pale figure.

"This child seems to have changed somewhat recently."

After watching for a long time, the Empress Dowager finally reached this conclusion.

Moreover, her tone was very gentle, as if chatting, indicating her attitude had relaxed.

However, she hadn't yet considered other possibilities.

She suddenly recalled Lou Han's behavior toward Xi Jingqi when she entered.

Could it be... that this child also desired to be at her son's side?

Countless thoughts swirled in the Empress Dowager's mind before her tone finally turned grave. She slowly let out a sigh. "Since Your Majesty has already decided, I cannot stand in the way. After all, ever since Your Majesty grew up, I have been unable to stop you... from doing anything."

But she knew exactly what kind of person her son was, and she understood even more clearly the nature of a monarch's love. Right now, Xi Jingqi liked Lou Han, but it was merely because he found him novel. Yet, likes and dislikes could change in the blink of an eye. If that time came...

"When Your Majesty no longer favors him, please spare this child's life. After all, he grew up with you, and I share a bond of affection with his mother."

The Empress Dowager's decisive words made her stance clear.

In her heart, she recited the principle of following the natural way, letting her son have his way.

Xi Jingqi narrowed his long, phoenix-like eyes slightly.

Watching Lou Han eat several pieces of pastry, he couldn't help but curl the corner of his mouth into a smile.

...

As soon as the Prime Minister stepped out, he was surrounded by the various ministers. Before anyone could speak, he stroked his beard, first looking up at the sky with a long sigh. "I know my colleagues are anxious, but His Majesty's mind is made up."

"This... this..."

"This goes against propriety! It truly goes against propriety."

Upon hearing this, the old ministers were all huffing and puffing with indignation.

As the saying goes, accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger.

After emerging, the old Prime Minister pondered for a long while before shaking his head with a bitter smile. "The Emperor's heart, I find it increasingly difficult to fathom now."

It wasn't just difficult to fathom; what His Majesty intended to do now was simply madness.

Someone whispered, "I heard the Crown Prince is still inside. Could it be that His Majesty truly intends to enfeoff the Crown Prince as Empress? Can Her Majesty the Empress Dowager persuade His Majesty?"

"Yes, yes." "Indeed, sir, what did His Majesty say to you?" "What is the Empress Dowager's opinion?" The onlookers chimed in agreement.

The Prime Minister stroked his beard, his thoughts complex. "Colleagues from the Ministry of Rites, begin preparations for the empress enthronement ceremony!"