Once, the emperor happened to bring up his sons' marriages:
"The other princes all have principal wives now. Only the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince have yet to find anyone. I wonder whose daughters would be willing to marry these two sons of mine?"
Cai Wuxi's bitter rival, Right Vice Minister Liu Qin, rolled his eyes thoughtfully and said:
"Your Majesty, I hear that Lord Cai's legitimate daughter is beautiful and gracious, and has feelings for the Tenth Prince. Why not grant them their wish?"
Cai Wuxi knew that damned old bastard was digging another pit for him, but he did not dare say that his daughter had no interest in the Tenth Prince.
However little favor the Tenth Prince enjoyed, he was still the emperor's son. It was not for ministers like them to turn up their noses at him.
The emperor immediately turned to ask Cai Wuxi:
"Cai, is this true?"
"It is indeed."
The emperor was delighted. The Tenth Prince's marriage was finally settled.
Then Cai Wuxi said:
"Your Majesty, I have also heard that Lord Liu's second legitimate daughter, Liu Linfei, has feelings for the Ninth Prince. Why not take this opportunity to grant them their wish as well?"
Cai Wuxi's thinking was simple: If you won't let me have an easy time, I won't let you have one either.
Everyone knew that, of all the princes, the Tenth Prince had the weakest maternal family backing. The Ninth Prince was only a little better off.
Those two princes were practically six of one and half a dozen of the other.
The emperor was even happier when he heard this and asked:
"Liu, is this really true?"
Liu Qin clenched his fists in fury. His daughter was a renowned talented lady in the Capital, worthy of