Noble Lady

The Queen Mother waved her hand.

Situ Zhen even turned around and said to Xue Chenyu, "I'll go first," and then walked back with big strides.

Everyone present couldn't help but look at each other in surprise.

Prince Cheng has already gone so far. Who would believe him if he said he was not sincere in wanting to marry the eldest daughter of the Xue family?

I'm afraid he had planned this a long time ago?

Naturally, such a thought flashed through the Queen Mother's mind, but she did not show it. She patted the seat beside her and asked Situ Zhen to sit down and talk.

"It's okay. I'll stand and listen to your teachings."

When the Queen Mother heard what he said, she immediately closed her eyes.

He was determined to choose the girl from the Xue family as his principal wife.

……

His Majesty walked into the Qinzheng Hall with an expressionless face.

His Majesty, who is generally recognized to be elegant and easy-going, finally displayed the aura of a king at this moment.

The awe-inspiring aura surrounding him made Eunuch Wang, who had been serving beside him, feel dazed. Was this man really the emperor he had served for many years?

Situ Zhen knelt in front of the desk.

Over the years, he has rarely knelt in His Majesty's Qinzheng Hall.

Most of them sat, but at the very least they could stand and listen to the teachings.

But in today's atmosphere, you really have to kneel.

"Your actions today are designed to completely embarrass your grandmother."

Although His Majesty had a cold expression on his face, he couldn't help but soften his tone when he spoke.

The Empress Dowager realized that Situ Zhen had made up his mind, so she said she was not feeling well and returned to Ci'an Palace first.

The noble ladies naturally left the palace first.

This is also the first time since the founding of Dasheng that His Majesty and the Queen Mother have not directly arranged a marriage for the sons and grandsons of the emperor at a flower-viewing banquet.

Although, according to the rules of the flower viewing banquet, whoever the flowers are given to is the one he will marry, Xue Chenyu's situation is too special.

I have to say it separately.

"I think Your Majesty also agrees." Situ Zhen knelt straight.

"I can grant you a marriage and make her a concubine. She will enter the palace on the same day as the principal wife and enjoy the same treatment as the principal wife. The Empress Dowager can also add some bedding to her, which will also preserve her dignity as the Princess of Anping County."

"Even if Marquis Xue and his wife came, they wouldn't be able to refuse this favor."

Situ Zhen was silent for a moment, "What if I insist on not marrying someone else?"

"I know you long for a lifelong couple, but you must understand that you are my only legitimate son. You shoulder great responsibilities and must not act recklessly."

Even a proud king like Your Majesty did not use the title "I" at this time, but used "I" to address the younger generation.

He naturally knew how painful it was to not be able to marry his beloved, and he also knew the determination in the child's heart.

But since he was born into the royal family and was the only legitimate son, he had his responsibilities.

Even though he was the emperor, there were times when he felt powerless in the face of these responsibilities and the empress dowager.

"Da Fu, I know you've made up your mind and will marry no one but you, but have you ever thought about what you would do if your grandmother firmly disagreed with you marrying that girl as your principal wife?"

Before Situ Zhen could speak, His Majesty continued, "Don't forget that you were raised by your Imperial Grandmother since childhood. She is not only your grandmother, but also the one who nurtured and protected you."

"Are you really willing to let her exhaust herself for you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a dead silence in the Qinzheng Hall.

"Your Majesty, why did you use the Empress Dowager as a raft? Don't you think so yourself?" Situ Zhen laughed at himself.

Your Majesty was shocked.

This child grew up under his nose, and he knew his character very well.

I'm not afraid of him arguing with reason, I'm just afraid of him looking so hopeless.

It's really shocking.

"You...you shouldn't be so stubborn." His Majesty's words seemed to have no weight.

Situ Zhen said obediently, "I know what Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager mean, but if I marry, I will only marry her."

"Your Majesty insists that I marry another woman and take her home. I cannot disobey your order. Rather than disobeying your order later, Your Majesty should deal with me first."

"You, what nonsense are you talking about?" His Majesty was angered by his remarks.

It was the first time that His Majesty regretted that he had spoiled the child since he was young just because he looked like him, which allowed him to be so unruly in front of the king.

"My meaning has been made very clear. Even if I agree to this, your royal grandmother cannot agree. Kneel here for an hour, then go see your royal grandmother and speak to her in person."

Your Majesty is a good passer, and he immediately passed the ball to the Queen Mother.

Eunuch Wang understood. Although His Majesty did not agree to let Prince Cheng marry Princess Anping as his principal wife, he did not dare to force it.

He then went out and called a clever eunuch, whispered a few words into his ear, and after the eunuch walked a little distance away, he trotted away and soon disappeared.

His Majesty asked Situ Zhen to kneel, and he did so obediently.

He knelt for a full hour before limping towards Ci'an Palace.

The Queen Mother has received the news.

Seeing him coming in such a miserable state, she did not show any sign of mercy. Instead, she put on a cold face and stopped Nanny Fang who was about to see a seat for Situ Zhen.

Given what he had done, even if the Empress Dowager didn't want to see him, she could still make him kneel at the gate of Ci'an Palace for another hour.

It’s just that she couldn’t bear to do so.

But thinking that he was really mad at this grandson whom he had loved since childhood, he lost his temper and let him suffer a little bit of pain.

Situ Zhen also thought so in his heart. It didn't matter if he kneeled for a while or stood for a while. It would be good if it could help the Empress Dowager to calm down.

He wanted to save her from getting sick at her old age because of his anger, which would be extremely unfilial of him.

then.

The Queen Mother didn't let him sit, so he just stood there and didn't say anything.

This made the Queen Mother very angry.

"How come, kneeling in the Qinzheng Hall for an hour has made you mute and unable to speak?"

"Grandmother, please calm down." Situ Zhen slowly knelt down.

It was because he had been kneeling for too long before, and his legs were numb all the way here. After he finally recovered, he stood for a long time and his legs became numb in the other direction again.

"Stand up and talk. When did I ask you to kneel?" the Queen Mother said in a deep voice.

Now Situ Zhen was in a dilemma: whether to kneel or not.

I supported myself on the ground with my hands, endured the numbness in my legs, and finally stood up.

"Your Majesty has asked your grandson to come and see the Imperial Grandmother and explain things clearly to her mother..." Situ Zhen smiled helplessly. "Your Majesty feels that I was the one who deliberately tricked the Imperial Grandmother into giving the invitation to Princess Anping. Does the Imperial Grandmother agree?"

"Is not it?"

I can't admit it.

Situ Zhen suppressed the secret joy in his heart and acted embarrassed again.

"That day, it was the Empress Dowager who sent Nanny Fang to the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion to ask Miss Xue to be her lobbyist. She also promised that she would arrange a marriage for whoever could persuade her grandson to return to the capital."

"It was not Miss Xue's fault that she had met a bad man, and because of me, she suffered misfortune and her reputation was tarnished. However, her character is impeccable, and this fact should not be used as a means for others to criticize her."

"Later, when my grandson returned, he made it clear to the Empress Dowager that she was the beloved daughter of my savior, Marquis Xue. I could not sit idly by and watch her be slandered. If she had trouble getting married in the future because of this, it would be entirely my fault."

"That's why I asked the Empress Dowager for an invitation to the flower viewing banquet in exchange for a smooth marriage."

"You still say you weren't scheming?" Before Situ Zhen could finish, the Queen Mother interrupted in frustration, "When did you fall for that girl? You've been planning this for so long."

Situ Zhen did not refute.

"In order to marry her legitimately, you didn't hesitate to tarnish your own reputation and threatened to become a monk. You wanted to make me anxious for you, so that she could take advantage of you..."

At this point, the Queen Mother sighed with dismay, "Dafu, by doing this, are you worthy of the Royal Grandmother's care and support for you over the years?"

"Your Majesty, you are too kind." Situ Zhen knelt on one knee. "Please understand, Your Majesty, I did what I did to marry her. But if I can't marry her, I would rather shave my head and become a monk."

"You, what did you say?" The Queen Mother was stunned.

Even now, he can still say such words.

Then he is sincere.

This is really shocking.

"The Imperial Grandmother has spoken to my grandson about her past, but even if there were no such connection, just because Princess Anping was married before, you would still feel that she is unworthy of being my grandson's legal wife."

"No, even if she hadn't married, you would still think her background in the Marquis of Wu'an Mansion was not good enough."

The Queen Mother: “…” She admitted this.

In her heart, her great fortune deserves the best woman in the world.

Not to mention that she was just a girl from the Wu'an Marquis Mansion, even if she was a girl from a prominent family, if she wanted to do a serious job for Dafu, she would have to be carefully selected.

Naturally, she cannot be careless about the other half of her family.