Chapter 84 Part 1

 

“Lord Pei, does your nephew know that you came to Zhen to ask for the princess’ hand in marriage?”

After a long silence, the emperor’s voice was finally heard in the hall.

“Your Majesty, up to now, this minister’s Erlang has no idea.”

The emperor raised his eyebrows, said “oh” softly, and looked at Pei Ji with a meaningful look.

“Lord Pei, are you confused? Now that the princess has returned to the court, why are you still talking about the past?

“Besides, Zhen knows to some extent that some people are ignorant of the world and have humiliated her. Zhen is already being magnanimous by not pursuing the matter now. How can there be any so-called fate?”

Although the emperor spoke in a leisurely tone, the dissatisfaction and resentment that seemed to be bursting out from his words could not be concealed no matter what.

Obviously, if the person who spoke just now was not Pei Ji, but anyone else, the emperor would probably have changed his face and lost his temper on the spot.

“Your Majesty is absolutely right. This minister knows this may be presumptuous, but still begging Your Majesty to allow this minister to finish what he wants to say.” Pei Ji looked calm.

“Go on!” the emperor said calmly.

“Your Majesty does not want this minister to talk about the past matters, but this minister must be bold and speak of them nonetheless. At the beginning of the year, the princess came to this minister and suffered a great injustice. Everything was this minister family’s fault. This minister still feels guilty when thinking of this matter. This minister’s nephew should be the same. After the princess left, he searched for her in many places. He started from Ganliang and went all the way to find the princess’s former residence, but to no avail. The deadline for the official appointment was approaching, so he had no choice but to temporarily stop looking for her and proceed to the capital. Later, by chance, he was able to meet the princess again in Chang’an.

“This minister remembers clearly what he wrote at that time. His purpose was to inform this minister of this matter so that this minister could rest assured. However, between the lines of his letter, this minister could still read his infinite joy.

“Your Majesty, this minister’s nephew has been with this minister since he lost his father at the age of eight. It can be said that he grew up before this minister’s eyes. He has a reserved temperament, acts with caution, and has always been strict with himself, even in matters of emotion, which are the hardest for young men to control. Never once has he shown the slightest distraction. Over the years, this is the first time this minister felt that he could be so deeply affected by someone, to the extent that his emotions are entirely dictated by her. From that day, this minister understood that this minister’s nephew’s heart was already occupied, and the person who holds it is none other than Miss Ye, who was still a painter at the time.

“To be honest with you, Your Majesty, this minister was half happy and half worried at that time. This minister was happy that our Pei family’s Erlang, who this minister thought would be lonely all his life, finally found someone he liked. But this minister was also worried—worried that his reserved nature and difficulty expressing himself would mean he wouldn’t know how to properly pursue her. Later, this minister learned that Your Majesty was planning a trip to Cangshan, and guessed that the young lady might go with you, so this minister asked He Jin to come. In addition to delivering the letter of apology on behalf of this minister, it also to let him observe this minister nephew’s behavior so this minister could prepare accordingly. Never, however, that this minister thought that the young lady’s status was so unattainable. After learning that the princess had returned to the court, this minister had completely given up the idea, but after thinking about it over and over again, this minister still couldn’t let it go.

“Marriage is the most important human relationship. He is the only one left among the younger generation of our Pei family. Now that his heart is set on the princess, if this minister does not consider his future, who will? If this minister fails to give this his utmost effort, how will this minister face his parents in the afterlife?

“Earlier, Your Majesty asked whether he himself was aware of this matter. The truth is that the princess’s return to court was so sudden that this minister learned of it too late. When this minister wanted to discuss it with his nephew, he had already been dispatched by Your Majesty on an assignment. This minister had planned to discuss it after he returned. However, upon hearing that several other families had already sent envoys to propose marriage, while this minister is not talented, yet decided to act swiftly to demonstrate our family’s sincerity. Thus, this minister came here in advance to convey, on his behalf, his desire to marry the princess. When this minister’s nephew returns and learns that this minister has already petitioned Your Majesty for his marriage, this minister is certain he will gladly comply.

“Your Majesty, this minister knows that the other suitors who proposed marriage are all fine young men—handsome, noble, and from distinguished families. This minister know that one’s nephew is far inferior to them. However, when it comes to sincerity and devotion toward the princess, this minister’s nephew is in no way inferior to any of them. Thus, this minister humbly and boldly makes this request: beyond paying my respects to Your Majesty, this minister also take the liberty of proposing marriage on behalf of one’s nephew. This minister beseechs Your Majesty to consider this and grant him a chance.”

Pei Ji’s words were very moving. The emperor pursed his lips tightly, his expression wavering. At this moment, accompanied by a slight sound of footsteps, a voice said, “Lord Pei is thoughtful.”

Pei Ji turned around and saw the princess approaching him with a bright smile. She gracefully bowed and said, “I am deeply moved by Lord Pei’s sincere affection for your younger generation. How could I possibly deserve such praise as Lord Pei has given? Your words flatter me beyond measure, and I feel deeply unworthy. The sentiment Lord Pei conveys on behalf of Master Pei, I have received. I am certain His Majesty will give it due consideration. Lord Pei, please stand up.”

Pei Ji hurriedly returned the greeting, and then saw the princess bow to the emperor who remained silent on his seat: “Father, it’s getting late. Lord Pei has come from a far distance, and he must be tired tonight. If you monarch and minister have anything else to discuss, why not talk about it tomorrow?”

The emperor’s eyes moved around the princess’s face for a few times, revealing some hint of displeasure, but he finally endured it, sighing. He then called Zhao Zhongfang in, and ordered him to led Pei Ji downstairs and settle him down.

Pei Ji kowtowed to the emperor again, and then left with Zhao Zhongfang. Xuyu still saw him off in person, escorting him out of Qingrong Palace. Pei Ji declined again and again, but only when they reached the palace gate that Xuyu stopped and watched him leave along the palace corridor with Zhao Zhongfang, until he could no longer be seen. She then turned around and walked back inside.

The emperor was still in the outer hall where he had audience with Pei Ji. He walked slowly back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back. When he heard Xuyu come back and persuade him to go to bed, he stopped and looked at her: “Why don’t you just take him to his room and tuck him on the bed?”

Obviously, the emperor was displeased with his daughter’s attitude of respecting Pei Ji just now.

Xuyu smiled, came up to support him, and walked slowly to the bedroom with him, saying, “Father, what are you talking about? When I went to Ganliang at the beginning of the year, Lord Pei treated me very kindly, like his own daughter. Now he has come from afar, I just saw him off. Why did it make Father so unhappy?”

The emperor snorted and finally stopped talking, but his face was still a little displeased. Even when Xuyu sent him to the bed and served him alongside Yang Zai’en to bed, he still frowned and suddenly said, “All of you go out.

“Hao’er, stay.”

Yang Zai’en knew that the emperor wanted to speak to the princess alone, so he quickly agreed and retreated with the rest of the people.

“Father, if you have something to say, feel free to say it.” Xuyu stood in front of the emperor and saw his eyes fall on her face. He was silent for a long time before finally spoke softly.

“What do you think about what Pei Ji mentioned to Zhen tonight on behalf of his nephew?” the emperor finally asked.

“Why don’t you consider it, Father?” Xuyu replied.

The emperor probably didn’t expect his daughter to respond so quickly. He was stunned at first, and then his face showed displeasure again: “Pei Ji is Pei Ji, Pei Er is Pei Er! Hao’er, can’t you even tell the difference?”

“Father, this time you asked Pei Er to purge the remnants of Chen Sida’s party, naturally considering his background and valuing his influence over the scattered former soldiers of the Shenhu Army. You thought that sending him there would achieve twice the result with half the effort, which is not wrong. But Father, you sent Yuan Zhi to be the military supervisor! Father, if you doubt someone, don’t employ them, and if you employ someone, don’t doubt them. I still say that, if you treat him like this, how can you expect him to be truly loyal to the court and submit to you, Father?”

The emperor paused, visibly perturbed. “Father has one’s own reasons. You need not concern yourself with this!”

“Father, please remove the people who are monitoring him!”

Xuyu was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

“Don’t you want a sheath for his sword? Father, why don’t I become that sheath?”

The emperor looked at her in surprise for a moment, and then he finally seemed to react.

“Are you asking Father to marry you to him to show Father’s trust and favor to him?” The emperor’s brows immediately furrowed and then shook his head.

“Hao’er! You are Zhen’s only daughter! No matter how capable Pei Er is, no matter how important he will be to the country in the future, in Father’s eyes, ten of him are no match for you!”

The emperor paused, recalling the conversation that night in the mass grave in the suburbs east of the city, and his eyes became increasingly gloomy.

“Father will tell you the truth. Father gave him a chance a long time ago! Father once asked him personally if he could protect you for your whole life. Guess how he answered? He didn’t even respond!

“Why would Father marry you to a man who won’t even offer a verbal commitment? Just because his uncle came to propose, should Father give you to him, only for him to look down on you in the future, thinking that our imperial family had no better choice than him?”

The emperor grew angrier the more he thought about it.

“Father knows you like this man, so what? Don’t be confused! There are plenty of fine young men in the world! Zhen thinks that Lantai is very good! As for Pei Er, he can be unfaithful to Zhen, but as long as he doesn’t act against the court or commit any offenses, Zhen can tolerate anything. But why should Father force you to marry him just to win his heart!

“You don’t have to think too much about this matter!” The emperor waved his hands heavily and said in a decisive tone.

Compared to the emotional emperor at the moment, Xuyu seemed extremely calm.

“Father, I do like Pei Er and am willing to spend my life with him. I won’t deny this. But if you think that I made such a hasty decision because of Pei Ji’s arrival tonight, then you are wrong.”

She met the two suspicious eyes of the emperor.

“Why does he have a grudge against you, and why do you always put your guards against him? You must know the reason better than I do. I also know that I may not play a big role in it. But from the moment I told you that day that I was willing to return to the court to be a princess, I was ready to take on everything a princess should take on.

“My earlier words, and what I intend to do—I am very clear about them. I’m willing to give Master Pei a chance because it’s also like giving myself a chance. I only beg you, Father, to promise me one thing. When the day you think is right comes, you must honor Great General Pei and the eight hundred martyrs and give them the posthumous reputation they deserve. Let their descendants live in dignity, with care for the old and support for the young, and hold their heads high before the world, proud of the achievements of those who have passed.

“That will not be an act of boundless grace from you, Father. That is the court’s, and yours, to repay what is owed to them!”

After she finished speaking, she knelt down and kowtowed to the emperor who was sitting on the bed.

The emperor stared at his daughter who was kneeling solemnly at his feet. Slowly, like a deflated ball, after a moment’s silence, a hesitant look appeared on his face.

“Hao’er, you—”

He paused, his expression still showing unwillingness, “You also saw it yourself! That Pei boy is so stubborn! You want Zhen to agree to Pei Ji’s request to marry you to him? Zhen really…”

“There is no need for Father to forcibly arrange a marriage; that is not my intention either,” Xuyu said.

“Hao’er, what do you mean?” The emperor looked at her in confusion.

“Didn’t all the families come together to express their wishes for marriage, Father?

“Just as I said earlier, I am merely giving him a chance. If, in the end, he himself chooses to give up, I will not insist. From then on, I will never bring up this matter again.”

She paused for a moment, then added thoughtfully.

…

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