SFS Chapter 233 Proposal
Chapter 233 Proposal
Shen Qingtan came out of the front hall and exhaled a breath of stale air.
As long as the emperor is not threatened by Northern Qi, the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion is safe.
Shen Qingtan sighed, "I would rather my brothers not be outstanding, but just be mediocre and maintain the status quo, so that at least they can live a peaceful and stable life."
Emperor Jing'an was a benevolent ruler. If the next emperor does not have a broad mind and vision, the higher the prestige of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, the more difficult its situation will be.
She took Zhao Yi's arm and said, "Mother said that our family should keep a low profile and that my brothers' marriages should not be with relatives from prominent families. From the moment we arrived in the capital, she had been trying to find suitable partners for my brothers. But before we could even choose someone, the Northern Qi intervened and wanted to marry their princess to my eldest brother."
Princess Zhenbei intends to propose marriage to the Qi family on Shen Lue's behalf. Back in the northern border, Shen Lue and Qi Chuyin had a close relationship, risking their lives together, which tarnished her reputation. He should take responsibility for that.
However, given the Qi family's status, there were some concerns, leading to some hesitation.
Zhao Yi frowned. Emperor Jing'an only had three sons. Prince Yu's heart was not big enough to accommodate the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion. Prince Rui was gentle but indecisive. The only remaining prince was timid and cowardly, whom he had met twice.
Would a prince who lost his mother's protection at a young age and grew up in the deep palace really be so timid?
They were either genuinely cowardly and posed no threat to the other two princes, thus surviving unscathed.
Or they are either highly cunning and scheming.
Zhao Yi concealed the thoughts in his eyes and said with a smile, "The Emperor will not let Northern Qi succeed, so you can relax. Your mother-in-law has arranged marriages for your brothers, so everything is settled."
Shen Qingtan smiled and said, "I'd like to propose Yaoyao to my brother. Anyway, Mother said she only cares about family tradition and character, not social status or background."
Zhao Yi nodded: "You can invite Miss Qin to your residence another day so that your mother-in-law can have her fortune told."
The more Shen Qingtan thought about it, the better it seemed. Not only did she know the Qin family well, but Yaoyao was also very lively and cheerful, without any guile or scheming.
If she marries her brother, she won't have to worry about Yaoyao encountering the heartless man from her past life.
"This matter requires not only the agreement of Mother and Uncle Qin, but also the wishes of Yaoyao and her brother. Only if they are on the same page can this marriage be arranged."
The marriage between the Prince of Zhenbei and the Prince of Zhenbei was not arranged by their parents, but rather based on mutual affection. Therefore, they were very open-minded about their children's marriages, prioritizing their children's wishes.
Shen Qingtan planned to first invite Qin Yao to the Prince's residence so she could meet her brothers. Then, she would privately inquire about their wishes, and if they were not pleased, she would simply pretend the whole thing never happened.
-
The next morning, news that the Prince of Zhenbei had led his troops away from the capital to the northern border spread throughout the city.
Inside the Siyi Pavilion, Gao Daren, the deputy envoy of Northern Qi, had a gloomy expression. He had heard the news yesterday that the Prince of Zhenbei was mustering troops to go to the northern border, but he did not take it to heart and instead waited to see how things would develop.
After all, the Prince of Zhenbei did not set off on the same day, and such a big commotion would surely reach the ears of Emperor Jing'an.
Lord Gao thought that Emperor Jing'an would stop the Prince of Zhenbei, but to his surprise, Emperor Jing'an made no move and let the man go.
Could it be that Emperor Jing'an secretly instructed Prince Zhenbei to send troops to the northern border?
Prince Qi clasped his hands behind his back and walked up to Lord Gao: "You said that Emperor Jing'an would agree to Princess Guangning marrying Shen Du, but now it seems that it was just wishful thinking on your part."
“The Prince of Zhenbei has always been arrogant. He even defied the imperial decree in front of the late emperor.” Lord Gao was unwilling to believe that Princess Yizhen, their trump card, had lost its effectiveness.
He knew perfectly well what Princess Yizhen held in Emperor Jing'an's heart, and the Emperor of Northern Qi knew it even better, which is why he was so fearless.
Prince Qi scoffed, "Lord Gao, without Emperor Jing'an's authorization, if Prince Zhenbei secretly mustered troops and left the capital, his head wouldn't be enough to pay for it. Not only did Emperor Jing'an not punish him, but he also allowed him to leave the capital. Don't you understand why?"
Unable to deceive himself any longer, Lord Gao decided to write a letter and send it to Northern Qi.
Just then, a guard's voice came from outside the door: "Lord Gao, Emperor Jing'an requests your presence in the palace."
With a cold expression, Lord Gao headed towards the palace.
He wanted to see if Emperor Jing'an truly disregarded Princess Yizhen.
-
Emperor Jing'an summoned Lord Gao to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. As soon as Lord Gao entered, he instructed Cao Chunxiang to offer him a seat.
Lord Gao did not sit down. After bowing to Emperor Jing'an, he asked, "I wonder why Your Majesty has summoned me to the palace?"
"Envoy Gao, you must have heard the news that the Prince of Zhenbei has led his troops to the northern border." Emperor Jing'an put down his vermilion pen and stood up: "The Prince of Zhenbei is a fierce general of the Great Zhou. His temperament is as tough as his abilities, and I can't do anything about him."
Lord Gao sneered inwardly. A monarch who can't do anything about a subject—isn't that just making him a laughingstock?
“The Northern Qi and the Great Zhou are constantly at war, and you know the situation of the Great Zhou best.” Emperor Jing’an sighed, “I have no one else I can use, except for this one military general. If I punish him, then there will be no one to guard the border for me.”
Just as Lord Gao was about to speak after hearing Emperor Jing'an's high-sounding words, Emperor Jing'an interrupted him: "In my opinion, you should choose someone else for the marriage alliance."
How could Lord Gao not know that Emperor Jing'an was on the side of Prince Zhenbei?
The Prince of Zhenbei's trip to the northern border was clearly at the behest of Emperor Jing'an.
"Your Majesty, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. Don't you plan to welcome Princess Yizhen back to her homeland before then?" Lord Gao asked with a touch of sadness. "I met Princess Yizhen at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet twenty-two years ago. She missed her homeland very much."
“It is not that I do not welcome Yizhen back to the country, but that I govern the country with benevolence and virtue, and I cannot subdue the Prince of Zhenbei.”
Emperor Jing'an looked helpless: "If you insist on marrying Princess Guangning to the eldest son of the Prince of Zhenbei, the Prince of Zhenbei will attack Northern Qi, and the two countries will be plunged into war again. The treasury of the Great Zhou is empty, while the Princess of Zhenbei's family is richer than a country. If they have to pay for the military expenses out of their own pockets, this war will not end for who knows how long."