dognovel Chapter 185 Getting Married! Getting Married!
Chapter 185 Getting Married! Getting Married!
"It means you're suspicious, but it's not easy for two people to fall in love, and it's even harder to stay together for life. If you want to spend your life with her, please trust her no matter what. After all, three women make a drama. If someone were to poison her or slander her, it would be all too natural among your harem of three thousand beauties. So please trust her unconditionally and protect her."
“I know that when an emperor truly wants to protect a woman, he will be able to protect her no matter what.”
“If you can’t give her care and protection, then taking her away from the Cold Palace will only push her into another abyss. You might as well not acknowledge her and take her back to the palace.”
Xian'er rattled off a long explanation, and the emperor finally understood that she was giving him a wake-up call, urging the two of them to cherish each other.
Her heart was filled with mixed feelings, and since Xian'er didn't deliberately lower her voice, the people inside could hear her.
Zuo Xiange was deeply moved and decided that he would treat her well from now on.
Thus, despite everyone's objections, the emperor insisted on making Zuo Xiange his empress.
The two were affectionate for a time. However, later, Empress Lu framed them, and Zuo Xiange was sent to the Cold Palace.
He died of illness not long after.
Xian'er was given the title of Consort Xian for her role in educating the eldest prince.
At this moment, Consort Xian rushed over and saw that the two had already started chatting. She said, "...You still found out."
Xia Li: "You and your servant had your reasons for faking your deaths back then. But don't feel guilty, the First Prince and she have already met. Now that the Emperor is critically ill, come with me to see him."
"what!!!"
Upon hearing this, Zuo Xiange hurriedly ran towards the Imperial Study.
She rushed into the imperial study and saw the emperor lying on his sickbed, barely alive, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Zuo Xiange threw herself onto the other person and burst into tears, rambling on about what had happened over the years.
The emperor, who was lying down, twitched his fingers and opened his eyes with difficulty. When he saw Zuo Xiange, his eyes were filled with surprise and guilt.
"I thought I would never see you again."
"The emperor said weakly."
Zuo Xiange grasped the emperor's hand, sobbing uncontrollably.
Consort Xian and Xia Li stood silently to the side, their hearts filled with mixed feelings.
The emperor smiled and, with his last ounce of strength, said to her, "Ge'er, I am truly happy to see you alive and well... I am sorry for you and your son. The throne has been passed to the eldest prince, but the position of empress is still yours. From now on, you must live well."
Zuo Xiange nodded fiercely, then shook her head urgently: "No, no, I don't want to! I want you to live, I want you to live well, with me..."
The emperor finally closed his eyes, and the entire palace was immersed in sorrow.
At this moment, the eldest prince and Xing Beiluo finally arrived late.
Xing Beilu squeezed through the crowd and came to the emperor. "Make way, make way, the person is not dead yet, everyone please don't be so sad."
The crowd, tears welling in their eyes: ...
Xing Beiluo quickly took out the silver needles he carried with him and inserted them into several acupoints on the emperor's body. He then took out a pill and put it into the emperor's mouth.
A moment later, the emperor slowly opened his eyes again.
Zuo Xiange was both surprised and delighted, and hugged the emperor tightly.
Xing Beiluo wiped the sweat from his forehead and explained, "I noticed something was wrong with His Majesty's pulse before, so I secretly prepared a remedy, and now the poison has been neutralized. But today's events have taken a toll on His Majesty's energy and spirit, and he still needs to recuperate properly."
Everyone suddenly realized what was happening and their sorrow turned to joy.
The emperor held Zuo Xiange's hand and said, "Only after this rebirth have I truly understood that you are the most precious person in this world. I will make it up to you properly from now on."
As he spoke, he pointed to the eldest prince and said, "The throne is now in your hands. Your wife said that I need to take care of my health and not overwork myself, so I will be a retired emperor in peace."
Nangong Sheng: "..."
Since you said she's my wife, I'll let it slide for now.
"Alright, all of you may leave. I need to rest." The emperor took Zuo Xiange's hand and ushered everyone out.
……
Outside the door, Zhao Jihua caught up with the eldest prince.
"Your Highness, please wait."
Her tone carried a hint of self-satisfaction, and she spoke with undisguised anticipation: "Your Highness, I have done my best in this palace coup, and I hope Your Highness will remember this merit and grant me an official position, such as a first-rank official or a lower-ranking official, so that I can continue to serve Your Highness."
The eldest prince remained indifferent, simply looking at her quietly without giving an immediate reply.
Zhao Jihua's heart skipped a beat, and she had a vague sense of foreboding.
However, she comforted herself, thinking that perhaps she had asked for too much and had put His Highness in a difficult position.
So she smiled and became even more humble: "If you think what I'm asking for is too much, a second-rank or higher is fine too. I will have no objection, as long as I can share Your Highness's burdens."
The eldest prince merely frowned slightly and gently shook his head.
Zhao Jihua: ...
No, my princess is also a first-rank noble!
But she endured it in order to gain power in the imperial court!
So Zhao Jihua smiled and said, "Your Highness, I may also go to work in the Six Ministries."
Nangong Sheng shook his head again.
That cold attitude was like a bucket of cold water, completely extinguishing Zhao Jihua's hope.
Zhao Jihua's anger began to burn fiercely; he felt that the eldest prince was a classic case of discarding a useful tool after it has served its purpose.
Oh! No!
They're probably acting innocent even though they got the benefit!
The resentment in her heart was as overwhelming as a surging tide.
At that moment, looking at the First Prince's arrogant demeanor, a crazy thought even flashed through her mind—
I really want to take them by surprise and stab them in the back!
Just as she was secretly gritting her teeth, her emotions on the verge of exploding.
The eldest prince finally spoke slowly and deliberately: "I have no desire for the throne and intend to pass it on to my ninth brother."
These words were like a bombshell, instantly exploding in Zhao Jihua's mind.
Zhao Jihua stood there, stunned. His face, which had been filled with anger, was now filled with astonishment and confusion.
It took her a while to come to her senses, and the expression on her face instantly changed from anger to embarrassment.
He chuckled twice and said, "Oh dear, Your Highness, you should have said so earlier! We almost accidentally injured our own troops!"
……
Meanwhile, the Ninth Prince, having received the news, was already making preparations to propose marriage at the Prince of Jin's residence.
The Prince of Jin's residence was naturally pleased with this, and the betrothal, name inquiry, auspicious date selection, gift presentation, and date setting were all completed in one go.
The wedding date was set for the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The Ninth Prince had everything arranged: a complete process of ascending the throne and getting married. That evening, he would take his bride to release lanterns.
Upon hearing the news, Zhao Jihua asked, "Is it in such a rush?"
"No rush, save time where you can, and do what needs to be done. We have plenty of time."
……
Time flies, and soon it's the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
At dawn, before the capital city had fully awakened from its slumber, a bright red light illuminated the streets and alleys.
Xia Li had announced early in the morning that she would send people to distribute wedding candies and red envelopes today.
Everyone who said auspicious words got one.
As a result, a certain scene emerged in the capital:
Before dawn, the people stood ready on the road that the wedding procession would take, spouting auspicious words until they were hoarse.
That's money!!!
The people who gave out the red envelopes were also thrilled. They kept waving them around in the crowd, and seeing the excited looks on everyone's faces as if they were looking at gods, they finally understood what it meant to spend money like water.