Chapter 154: Hello Chang’an
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Chapter 154: Even More Annoying
Seeing Li Lu kneel down in front of the Holy Emperor and express his request, the Holy Emperor smiled and asked, "Which family’s young lady is it?"
The guests around the table were equally curious.
The son of Prince Rong had been unmarried for a long time, and now, suddenly declaring that he had someone in mind—who could it be?
Among the women at the table, a young lady gazed at the kneeling Li Lu, her face showing a look of stunned surprise.
They had met several times at the music hall, where she had been drawn to his flute playing. She, too, enjoyed music, and his flute was filled with a sense of loneliness and purity. It didn’t seem like the music of someone who had a lover...
Had he, then, fallen for someone at this Lotus Garden banquet?
The chopsticks in the young lady’s hand had already fallen earlier, but since everyone else had been distracted by Li Lu’s actions, no one noticed her unusual reaction.
However, the maid beside her, from the Ma family, had noticed and quietly asked, "Miss, are you unwell?"
Ma Wan didn’t seem to hear the maid’s voice. She was still watching Li Lu.
She had discussed music with him before, but he never asked about her background or identity, and out of modesty, she hadn’t asked him either... She never imagined that when they met again, he would turn out to be the son of Prince Rong, and now, he already had someone he favored.
Who was this woman that had captured his heart?
He was like the bright moon—his beloved must be gentle and elegant, someone who shared his tastes and resonated with him. That would be the perfect match, wouldn’t it?
Thinking of this, a secret hope suddenly rose in her heart.
They had enjoyed a good conversation, and they were in perfect harmony when it came to music, weren’t they?
As she gazed at his figure, Ma Wan almost held her breath in anticipation.
"Your Majesty, your nephew has long been interested in the young lady from the Chang family."
Li Lu’s clear voice reached everyone’s ears.
The atmosphere around the table suddenly grew heavy.
Seemingly unable to raise his head to look at the Holy Emperor’s reaction, Li Lu gathered his courage and continued, "…Lu knows his own limitations. Although I am a son of the Li family, I have never been able to ease the Emperor’s worries or contribute to the court. I shouldn’t have rashly opened my mouth, making it difficult for Your Majesty..."
Several officials exchanged glances discreetly.
So, he was aware that by seeking a marriage, he was essentially "competing" with the Emperor for a woman?
"I should have suppressed this foolish thought," Li Lu went on. "But today, after being saved by Miss Chang at the horse racing grounds, I felt as if fate had guided me. If I miss this opportunity, I will regret it for the rest of my life. That is why I dared to ask..."
Under the gaze of countless eyes, Chang Suining remained silent.
Fate guiding him?
Surely, fate wasn’t such a meddler.
She looked toward the Li Lu, the one she had saved today. His sudden declaration of wanting to marry was truly surprising.
But her intuition told her that his words about being "in love" were not entirely trustworthy.
At least, not to be fully believed.
In the face of this unexpected turn of events, and with everyone watching and probing, the young lady maintained a calm expression but turned her gaze toward the Holy Emperor.
Now, the ball was not in her court—it was in the Emperor’s hands. It would be best to see what he planned to do next.
The Holy Emperor’s smile remained on her face.
The choice Li Lu spoke of was also unexpected.
Li Lu had to marry someday, and between marrying a woman from another family or one from the Chang family, who had no real power and was outwardly dignified, she thought the latter might be a better option. If this had been in the past, she wouldn’t have hesitated too much.
But things were different now.
The Holy Emperor first recalled the words of the Celestial Teacher—this young lady’s fate was quite peculiar, and there was an unclear, yet undeniable, connection to her own fate…
With this initial concern in mind, Li Lu’s request for marriage caused her to hesitate.
Moreover, Chang Suining had been chosen as the prospective Crown Princess. Any change in her plans would affect the Emperor’s broader strategy, and she couldn’t just take Li Lu’s actions at face value.
Earlier in the day, Li Lu had mentioned the incident at the horse race and expressed gratitude and admiration for the Chang family’s young lady…
Now, with the help of alcohol to bolster his courage, he had dared to speak his mind, and his actions truly resembled those of a young man who had been swept up in love.
Whether true or not, as the son of Prince Rong, Li Lu had long lived in the capital alone, and there were whispers among the officials, both openly and secretly, about her using this marriage as leverage, essentially making him a hostage. There were many who viewed the situation this way.
And if he truly were a hostage, Li Lu had been a model one over the years.
He never involved himself in court politics, avoided making connections with officials, and though ordinary, he always knew his place. His behavior today, however, was the first time he had ever acted with such disregard.
But perhaps because of this, what he now sought seemed like a child, usually obedient and sensible, suddenly gathering the courage to ask for a piece of candy he liked—something so innocent and sincere that it was hard to refuse.
As an emperor and also his elder, no matter her personal thoughts, in front of so many witnesses, it would be difficult to deny his request.
The way of an emperor is not always guided by personal will; on the contrary, because of their position, they must consider more factors and sometimes make concessions.
The decision to make such a concession depends on a careful weighing of the consequences.
“These years, I have often worried about your marriage,” said the Holy Emperor. “Now that you have found someone you like, I am pleased and will naturally support you.”
Chang Kuo nearly stood up upon hearing these words.
But he was secretly stopped by Yao Yi, who motioned for him to remain calm—"I know you're anxious, but don’t rush."
“However, marriage matters must still follow the parents' wishes. Your father, Prince Rong, is still in Yizhou, so it would not be proper for me to make this decision alone.” The Holy Emperor smiled and added, “I will send someone soon to inquire about your father's opinion. If he agrees, I will grant the marriage immediately. How do you find this arrangement?”
Since the letter would take some time to travel to Yizhou and return, and Prince Rong might have some reservations, there was still plenty of room for negotiation.
Li Lu looked grateful, his sickly face brightening with joy. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration!"
He then smiled slightly. "To be honest, two months ago, I already sent a letter to my father in Yizhou to express my feelings. Before the Lotus Flower Banquet, my father’s reply had already arrived..."
"My father does not oppose this matter and only said that, since I am in the capital, I should follow the Emperor’s wishes."
"I originally intended to express my feelings during this flower banquet, so I brought my father’s reply with me."
With that, he took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to the Emperor.
The Holy Emperor’s gaze flickered.
He had come well-prepared.
However, this preparation seemed less about disrupting her plans and more about a young man who had lost his head over love.
Amid the surrounding noise, a servant took the letter and presented it to the Holy Emperor.
As the Emperor read the letter, murmurs filled the air.
“Miss…” Xi’er now appeared anxious.
The Emperor had just said that as long as Prince Rong had no objections, she would grant the marriage to Li Lu. This meant that the Emperor was no longer considering the wishes of the Chang family at all.
Chang Suining couldn’t help but feel odd.
The Emperor had never asked for the Chang family’s opinion. While he might have wanted to appear decisive and unwilling to delay Li Lu’s request, this was an honest reflection of the Emperor’s true nature.
The desires of ordinary people never entered the Emperor’s consideration.
Whether it was pushing her to become the Crown Princess or agreeing to Li Lu’s request to marry her as the Princess Consort of Prince Rong, what ultimately influenced the Emperor's decisions were the costs and benefits.
Her opinion carried little weight, and the Emperor had no obligation to consider her wishes. Even if there was some "consideration," it was merely a result of weighing the advantages and disadvantages.
Of course, the Emperor’s earlier words made it clear that he had no intention of pushing her forward to be the consort of Prince Rong’s son.
However, Li Lu had not behaved obediently; instead, he insisted on his request and, at the most opportune moment, presented the letter from his father.
With this letter in hand and the Emperor’s earlier promise that "if Prince Rong agrees, I will grant the marriage," it was uncertain what the Holy Emperor’s next move would be.
“Li Lu seems to be quite serious,” the Holy Emperor remarked, setting the letter down.
“I am weak and useless, with no grand ambitions. I only wish to spend my life with the one I love,” Li Lu lowered his head, grateful and sincere. “I thank Your Majesty for your favor today. I will remain in the capital from now on, staying close to you and serving you with filial piety.”
The Holy Emperor smiled noncommittally. Her open promise to allow Li Lu to stay in the capital and serve him was almost like a bargaining chip. Was this an exchange of conditions with her?
She did not rush to speak but instead said, “Your health is poor. How can you continue kneeling? Please rise and speak.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
As Li Lu rose, Wei Shuyi smiled and remarked, “Prince Rong’s son’s devotion is as clear as the bright moon, it truly evokes admiration.”
He paused before continuing, “But marriage is not only about following the will of parents; it is also about uniting two families, and that 'union' requires mutual affection…”
As Wei Shuyi spoke, he turned toward the women’s seating area and smiled, asking, “I wonder if the Chang family’s daughter shares the same feelings as the Young Master?”
The Holy Emperor could not comment on this. If she did, it might appear that lqhe was subtly suggesting that the woman reject the proposal.
Since the Emperor couldn’t speak on it, Wei Shuyi, as a minister, took it upon himself to do so—he often played such a role in the court.
Yet, even as he spoke, he wondered if he truly understood the Emperor’s intent at this moment. After several "attacks" by Li Lu, he was no longer certain of the Emperor’s current thoughts.
Still, he said it.
Wei Shuyi turned his attention to the young woman.
He thought, she needed a chance to speak.
That chance might not necessarily come from him, but when she truly wished to speak, no one could stop her. But for now, he thought, he would try to create the opportunity.
His words allowed Chang Suining to stand naturally.
Li Lu looked at her, a sense of unease on his face, but his eyes were full of sincerity. “I truly have feelings for Miss Chang…”
The young woman met his gaze. “But I have no such feelings for you.”
Her calm words caused the atmosphere to shift abruptly.
Such a direct refusal left Li Lu stunned for a moment.
“You did not even mention this proposal to me beforehand, and I had no idea that you had feelings for me,” Chang Suining continued. “If you ask me whether I am interested, I am not, and this proposal has made me quite uncomfortable. Given all this, will you still insist?”
Gasps of surprise filled the air.
The Chang family’s young lady had been far too blunt in rejecting Prince Rong’s son!
Li Lu, the sickly young man, stood there, his face showing clear signs of embarrassment and unease.
Chang Suining remained unmoved and did not feel that she had spoken or acted incorrectly.
She bore no ill will toward Li Lu, and in fact, she had some natural goodwill for him because of his father, but that did not mean she would accept such an inappropriate proposal from him.
It was indeed an arrangement.
He had long made this plan with Prince Rong. Li Lu took a great risk in seeking the Emperor's approval, carefully choosing the timing of his actions. Every word, every step was perfectly arranged, and everything was planned out meticulously.
Rather than his own momentary discomfort, the real trouble and dilemma fell on her. Compared to the plan she had made with Cui Jing, Li Lu’s actions tonight mirrored some aspects but were quite different. Li Lu gave her little room to refuse, with the ultimate goal of having the Emperor bestow the marriage.
This might prevent her from becoming the Crown Princess, but it would just as surely force her into the role of Prince Rong’s consort. To her, the difference between the two was minimal.
She didn’t want to be the Crown Princess, and she certainly didn’t want to become Prince Rong’s consort, regardless of whether he genuinely admired her or had other plans. To her, it was nothing but manipulation.
The Holy Emperor had wavered, but she could not.
She would never accept being manipulated.
When she asked, “In that case, does the Young Master still wish to force the issue?” Li Lu fell silent.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy with awkwardness for a moment.
One official, trying to break the tension, chuckled lightly, “Feelings may not be immediate, but they can develop over time.”
Soon another voice joined in, “Exactly…”
“How rare it is to find a man with such a sincere heart as Prince Rong’s son… How could one pass up such a chance?”
An official sitting near Chang Kuo sighed, “General Chang should speak with his daughter, as the saying goes…”
A light crack sounded as Chang Kuo crushed the wine cup in his hand.
“...” The official immediately stopped speaking, feeling awkward.
The thick calluses on Chang Kuo’s palm prevented him from cutting his skin, and as he removed the shards from his hand, he furrowed his brow and asked, “Old Yao, why is this cup so fragile?”
The official opened his mouth but discreetly distanced himself from Chang Kuo.
However, the others continued to speak.
Some women also joined in, encouraging Chang Suining to consider the match, just as their husbands had: “How rare to find such a precious heart, how difficult to find someone who loves you…”
It was just like the Qiqiao Festival, when a bold man would express his feelings, and bystanders—whether they knew the couple or not—would chime in, urging the woman to accept the man’s affections.
But now the situation was different. Chang Suining didn’t even need to look carefully to know that many of those speaking up were likely from the Left Prime Minister faction, headed by the eldest grandson of the Chang family (Chang Miao family).
Most of those seated here were not idle; who would care whether Prince Rong’s son was embarrassed or not? Those speaking to smooth over the situation weren’t truly concerned about the atmosphere, but were simply using this as an opportunity to push her out of the running for Crown Princess.
In such a situation, if the Emperor’s heart shifted, a simple decree of marriage would settle the matter. If she didn’t resist, this could easily become a beautiful tale—people would praise Prince Rong’s son’s deep affection, and her “lack of interest” would likely be forgotten.
Perhaps the atmosphere gave Prince Rong’s son the courage he needed. Looking at Chang Suining, he sincerely promised, “My feelings for Miss Chang are not mere infatuation. I admire and respect her deeply. If the Emperor grants us this marriage, I swear to stay by her side for life and never take another concubine.”
Surprised gasps and expressions of admiration rippled through the room.
The only son of Prince Rong, publicly promising never to take a concubine—what a display of devotion and sincerity! It only deepened the impression of his passionate feelings!
But Chang Suining only found him more repulsive.
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
....
Not a single word of inquiry or consideration for her, just that one sentence, “If the Emperor grants us this marriage…”
At this moment, a young voice interrupted the tense atmosphere.
“Cui Jing also has something to ask the Emperor’s approval for—”
The voice was a welcome change, cutting through the rising tension in the room.
The mention of Cui Jing signaled a shift in the focus, perhaps introducing a new twist to the scene and signaling that the drama was far from over.
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