dognovel Chapter 13 Accepting the King's Betrothal
Chapter 13 Accepting the King's Betrothal
Ye Gengxin nodded, "As the Crown Prince just said, the dead should be respected. I have decided to respect the little girl's last wish."
A cold glint flashed in Yu Chi Rui's eyes, but the next moment, his face regained its gentleness, and even his tone became kind again, "General's love for his daughter is truly touching. I just thought you were blindly discussing marriage with Prince Cheng because you were overwhelmed with grief. It seems that I was overthinking it."
After saying this, he approachably advised the Wei family, "Young Master Wei is so handsome, why worry about finding a wife? I will personally act as matchmaker for Young Master Wei and ensure him a good marriage. What do you think, Lord Wei?"
The Wei family members were naturally unwilling to accept the annulment of the marriage with the Ye family.
After all, this was a dream they had longed for for many years, and no one could accept it being shattered in an instant.
But now that the Crown Prince has spoken to their faces, how dare they object?
On the contrary, upon hearing that the Crown Prince would personally act as matchmaker, Wei Guangzheng was somewhat flattered and hurriedly knelt down to kowtow, saying, "Your Highness's kindness is deeply appreciated by this humble subject. I entrust my son's marriage to Your Highness!"
With him kneeling, Ge Shi, Wei Yonghuai, and Luo Lixian had no choice but to kneel down to express their gratitude.
Yu Chi Rui's gaze suddenly stopped on Luo Li Xian.
A hint of surprise flashed quickly across his eyes.
"And who is this young lady?" he blurted out.
Among those present, Luo Lixian was the only young woman. Everyone turned to look at her, and Luo Lixian looked up in surprise. After confirming that the Crown Prince was asking about her identity, she immediately lowered her head again and replied with trepidation, "Your Highness, my surname is Luo, and my name is Lixian. I am the adopted daughter of Lord Wei and Lady Wei."
"Where are you from?" Yu Chi Rui asked again.
"Your Highness, I have been an orphan since childhood and have no fixed abode. Fortunately, I was taken in by Lord Wei and his wife and was able to settle down in the capital."
An orphan?
Yu Chi Rui's eyes narrowed slightly.
Is it really such a coincidence?
Perhaps realizing he had asked too many questions, he raised his hand sternly and said, "Rise, all of you. After court tomorrow, Minister Wei may accompany me to the Eastern Palace to discuss Young Master Wei's marriage."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey." Wei Guangzheng kowtowed again.
“Since the marriage between the two families has been called off, then you should not disturb General Ye any further,” Yu Chi Rui said considerately. “Let General Ye and Prince Cheng discuss the funeral arrangements for Miss Ye.”
Then he looked at Ye Gengxin and said, "General, I won't bother you any longer."
Ye Gengxin did not try to stop him, but raised his hand and said, "Your Highness, I will see you off."
And so, after the Crown Prince's persuasion, the Wei family members left the General's Mansion.
After seeing everyone off, Ye Gengxin returned to the hall.
Looking at Prince Cheng, who was drinking tea alone in his wheelchair, he pursed his lips, gestured for Hao Fu to take the servants away, and then asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, is my daughter really alright?"
Yu Chi Ling handed the teacup to Wen Mo, a smirk playing on his lips as he looked at him. "General, do you think that note was forged by me?"
Ye Gengxin quickly explained, "That's not what I meant. I was just worried about my daughter's safety."
Yu Chi Ling stopped laughing and sighed, "Fine, if anyone's to blame, blame me for meddling and letting the Third Miss come to my residence! Now, not only am I implicated by the Third Miss, but I've also offended a bunch of people."
Ye Gengxin looked at him with complicated emotions.
The daughter's faked death and subsequent annulment of the engagement indeed implicated Prince Cheng.
Not only did it implicate him, it also unjustly created an enemy for Prince Cheng!
"Your Highness, there is something I don't understand. Why is Your Highness helping my daughter so much?" He couldn't help but ask the question that was on his mind.
"As the saying goes, 'The more debts you have, the less you worry; the more lice you have, the less they itch.' In my current state, I'm not lacking in people who dislike me. What does it matter if a few more people hold a grudge against me? Since the Third Miss needs my help, why shouldn't I do a good deed?" Yu Chi Ling said with a smile.
"..." Ye Gengxin narrowed his eyes slightly.
Does Prince Cheng himself believe these words?
"However, now that the Crown Prince and the Wei family know that I am going to have a ghost marriage with the Third Miss, this show will probably have to go on no matter what."
"..."
Ye Gengxin died speechlessly.
If the daughter makes such a big fuss now and we make her show up, the Wei family will probably come back to cause trouble again.
The thought of their greedy faces, coveting their daughter's dowry, disgusts him. He truly doesn't know how he could have been so blind to believe the Wei family was kind and righteous!
In order to get rid of the Wei family's entanglement, he had no choice but to marry his daughter to Prince Cheng.
only……
The disfigurement of Prince Cheng can be ignored, but his legs are crippled and, according to the imperial physician, he will never be able to walk again. If his daughter marries him, will she be happy?
Yu Chi Ling had clearly come prepared today. While he remained silent, he instructed Wen Yan and Wen Mo, "Bring the betrothal gifts from the carriage in!"
"Yes!"
Before long, six large boxes appeared in the courtyard, filled with pearls, agates, silk fabrics, antique vases... a dazzling array that left one overwhelmed.
Ye Gengxin immediately recognized that these items were all rare treasures, and he was filled with astonishment. He looked at Yuchi Ling with disbelief, "Your Highness, are you serious?"
Yu Chi Ling raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like someone who's putting on an act?"
"But you and my daughter..."
"None of these matters; what matters is my heart."
"Can……"
“General,” Yu Chi Ling interrupted him again, a hint of impatience in his long, narrow black eyes, “General, you must be aware of my situation. If I leave the General’s residence empty-handed today, I guarantee that within half a day, an imperial decree will arrive to retrieve the Third Miss’s memorial tablet from the Crown Prince. But the Crown Prince already has a Crown Princess. Does the General intend for the Third Miss to enter the Eastern Palace as a concubine? Even if the General is willing, is the Third Miss willing?”
Ye Gengxin's face immediately turned ugly.
Because he didn't want his daughter to get involved in the power struggle, he didn't object when his deceased wife got engaged to Ge.
He was well aware of how many people in the court wanted to win him over, especially the Crown Prince, who had tested him both openly and secretly many times since his triumphant return to the capital.
He didn't understand why the Crown Prince, who was already the heir apparent and had the support of the court officials, needed to further strengthen his power.
If he were to have any connection with the Crown Prince under these circumstances, it would inevitably arouse the Emperor's suspicion.
His Ye family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, serving the king and the country. They are not a sword in the hands of any prince!
Looking at Prince Cheng in front of him, he is now incapable of anything. If his daughter had to choose between the two, he would rather choose Prince Cheng to protect herself than choose the Crown Prince and risk arousing the emperor's suspicion!
"Very well, then so be it, Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing his affirmative reply, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Yu Chi Ling's crimson lips.
……
Royal study room.
Just as the emperor finished reviewing the memorials and was about to return to his palace, a eunuch announced, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine requests an audience."
Yu Chi Sheng raised his eyelids slightly, gesturing for Consort Lan to enter.
A moment later, the elegant and graceful Consort Lan entered the Imperial Study, followed by a palace maid carrying a tray.
"Your Majesty," Consort Lan bowed gracefully, then said with concern, "It's already this late, and I heard you haven't returned to your palace yet. I had ginseng soup prepared, and took the liberty of coming here to find you."
Yu Chi Sheng was very accommodating; when the palace maid presented him with ginseng soup, he accepted it and drank a small half-bowl.
Just as he handed the remaining ginseng soup to the palace maid, he heard Consort Lan sigh heavily, as if she was troubled by something.
"What's wrong? Why are you sighing?"
"Your Majesty, Prince Cheng is infuriating!" Consort Lan exclaimed, her face filled with exasperation. "I told him to rest properly at home, but he keeps running off to General Zhihe's residence. Knowing full well that the general's eldest daughter is engaged, he not only fails to avoid suspicion but also brings her to his own residence. That's not all; I heard that Shi Shu had an accident that night and jumped into the moat, and he even went to the general's residence and took her memorial tablet to his own! Your Majesty, tell me, isn't this outrageous?"