The Prince of Jin declared: He has desires, but he is also resolute!
He wants Tang Zhuyun, and he wants the empire too!
Even when he went to meet the emperor, he maintained a cold and aloof expression.
The emperor looked at his son, who hadn't grown up by his side but resembled him the most, and felt a complex mix of emotions.
"Was the journey smooth?" the Emperor asked.
"Shang Ke," the Prince of Jin said coldly and distantly.
"Then... is the injury completely healed?" the Emperor asked, trying to make conversation.
He knew that the Prince of Jin was not close to him, and he also knew that the Prince of Jin harbored deep resentment towards him.
However, as emperor, he was not omnipotent and had many difficulties... Oh well.
The Emperor rubbed his chest, Wang Fu immediately stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, is your chest uncomfortable? Should we find the pills that Consort of the Prince of Jin specially ordered? The Princess said they can be used once every ten days, and it's been almost a month since the last one..."
Upon hearing Tang Zhuyun mentioned, Prince of Jin's expression softened slightly, and the corners of his mouth relaxed a little.
The Emperor, seeing this, breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, thanks to that girl from Tang Mingfan's family.
The Tang Family, father and daughter, are truly his lucky stars.
The Emperor had never seen Prince of Jin stop for any woman before, and once suspected that Prince of Jin was using this method to silently protest.
Several attempts were made, but all failed.
Finally, the emperor could no longer tolerate it and granted him a marriage.
Initially, the Emperor only regarded Tang Zhuyun as a pebble to test the waters. Even if Prince of Jin was annoyed by Tang Zhuyun's reputation, at least he would show some attitude and might come to him... Father and son could also take this opportunity to say things that are usually difficult to say.
However, the Prince of Jin did not comply; he silently accepted all of the Emperor's arrangements.
In the end, he rejected Meng Yulan because of what Meng Yulan and the Tang Family wanted; he remained indifferent...
But now, as someone who has been through it all, the Emperor clearly senses that Prince of Jin's emotions are beginning to change because of Tang Zhuyun, so how could he not be happy?
At least he made the right choice in this marriage.
The Emperor agreed with Wang Fu's suggestion, and the latter immediately took out the medicine while constantly giving the Prince of Jin meaningful glances.
Prince of Jin, thinking of the "special relationship" between Madam Wang and Tang Zhuyun, knew that Wang Fu meant well, so he "compromised" and stepped forward to hand the water to the emperor.
The Emperor was overjoyed; this was probably the closest the Prince of Jin had ever been to him since he was recognized.
The Prince of Jin was not disrespectful to him, but behind that respect lay a cold indifference and alienation that kept people at arm's length.
After the Emperor finished taking the medicine, he asked, "Have you finished what you were supposed to do?"
The Prince of Jin grunted in acknowledgment, and the atmosphere immediately returned to its previous stalemate.
The Emperor said, "When I'm at the Imperial Consort De's... place, bring A-Yun to the palace. She's had a tough time these past few days; I'll reward her properly later."
"Your subject thanks Your Majesty on her behalf."
Seeing that the Prince of Jin seemed hesitant to speak after finishing his sentence, the Emperor was pleased—as expected, mentioning Tang Zhuyun could ease the tension. So he said, "I am your father. What can't you say to your father?"
After a moment's hesitation, the Prince of Jin said, "Father, A-Yun has never abandoned me, but due to various circumstances, she followed me without any official status. Later... although you made her your princess consort, it was merely a temporary measure; ultimately, her status was not legitimate..."
The Emperor sensed his unspoken meaning and tentatively asked, "So, what do you mean?"
The Prince of Jin knelt down, lifting his robe. "Your Majesty, I humbly request permission to marry A-Yun again according to the proper rites for welcoming a princess."
Wang Fu shook his head as he listened.
How can this be allowed? She's already been a princess in the Prince's residence for so long, and now they're adding a ceremony for her? There's no precedent for this!
The Prince of Jin, if he wanted to treat his princess well, he could have simply washed her feet behind closed doors without anyone interfering. Why did he insist on this elaborate ceremony for others to see?
The Emperor has already shown considerable leniency today; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so why not seize it and demand some tangible benefits?
After a moment's thought, the Emperor asked, "Is this what she wants, or what you want to give her?"
"This is what I want to give," said the Prince of Jin, "I don't want to owe a woman who has been so devoted to me."
Upon hearing this, the emperor's face quickly turned ashen.
Wang Fu kept giving Prince of Jin meaningful glances, trying to stop him from continuing.
Prince of Jin is stabbing the Emperor in the heart!
The Prince of Jin showed no sign of compromise. His face was stern, and his eyes were fixed on the dragon table, filled with unwavering determination.
"Very well." The Emperor seemed to age several years in an instant, leaning weakly against the dragon throne, and waved his hand, saying, "Granted. You may leave."
The Prince of Jin bowed and rose, saying, "Your subject takes his leave."
Once his figure had completely disappeared, the emperor laughed self-deprecatingly, "I fear I will not gain his forgiveness in my lifetime."
Wang Fu quickly comforted him, saying, "Your Majesty is mistaken. Once the Princess Consort has given birth to a few children for the Prince, and the Prince becomes a true father himself, he will surely understand your deep affection for him. In the future, when the Prince is on his own and weighs the pros and cons, he will naturally understand your helplessness back then."
"The real father?" the Emperor said. "Perhaps. I also hope so. I hope that after I've done as he wishes this time, A-Yun will live up to my expectations and give me another grandson next year."
Wang Fu thought to himself: In which year haven't you had a new grandson?
However, to the emperor, those who are not favored are as good as non-existent, whether they are women in the harem or children and grandchildren.
"Yes, yes," Wang Fu replied, going along with his words. "The Prince dotes on the Princess, and there's only one person in the Prince's mansion who is the Princess..."
Besides, Tang Zhuyun has already proven that she can have children, and even sons.
The Emperor then looked at Wang Fu and said, "As for weighing the pros and cons after he takes charge independently, do you believe it?"
As a father, he might favor the Prince of Jin to compensate for his own feelings, but ultimately he hoped for brotherly harmony and respect.
He himself rose to power by stepping over the corpses of his brothers, but he hopes his sons will live in harmony with him.
By entrusting the Golden Scale Guard to Prince of Jin, wasn't he hoping that Prince Jin would shoulder great responsibilities and understand the hardships he had endured?
It's important to understand that the situation he faced back then was far more perilous than it is now.
But did the Prince of Jin realize this?
No.
Prince of Jin subdued all those who refused to submit—indeed, the blood of the Prince of Zhenbei's Residence flowed in his veins.
Wang Fu said he didn't believe such nonsense.
But what could he say? If he hadn't told lies, would he have gotten to where he is today?
Wang Fu said, "Your Majesty, you have to think about it this way: weren't there no princesses before? Did you ever imagine that one day, a prince would care so much for any woman?"
The emperor suddenly believed it.
Wang Fu is right. There was no Tang Zhuyun before, but now there is!
From Tang Mingfan to Tang Baixin and now to Tang Zhuyun, they are all precious lucky stars.
"By imperial decree, the Prince of Jin's wedding shall be conducted in accordance with proper rites and with great fanfare!" the Emperor declared.
Wang Fu cautiously said, "Your Majesty, there might still be some problems..."