Chapter 56: The Real Deal
From today onwards, no one would dare to say a word for Zhu Luyun.
No one would dare to rely on using the past, using the Li family’s past as Zhu clan’s former minister to suppress the imperial power.
Li De looked at the group of ministers prostrated at his feet, smiling faintly, silent.
The group of ministers did not dare to move a finger.
The candle flame swayed, reflecting a faint gloss of Li De’s snow-white hair. He looked at Yaoying: “Qiniang, you have displayed your utter loyalty to the country. Father is very pleased. Do you have any wishes? As long as father can satisfy it, I will definitely advocate for you.”
Yaoying solemnly bowed her head, her voice clear: “Your Majesty, this child has nothing to ask.”
Li De stilled.
This was different from what they had agreed to do.
A few days ago, they made a deal where Yaoying would ask him to punish Concubine Rong and treat Noble Concubine Xie well, and he agreed.
Now, why did she say she had nothing to ask?
Li De’s eyes flickered for a moment.
Yaoying straightened up with a serene expression.
“Your Majesty!” Commander-in-Chief Pei, who had the most straightforward disposition, wiped the corners of his eyes and said loudly, “The Seventh Princess has served the country and the people, worthy of being my Great Wei’s Princess! Your Majesty cannot wrong her! The imperial court cannot wrong her either! Since the Seventh Princess has nothing to ask for, Your Majesty may as well reward Noble Consort Xie!”
The other ministers immediately responded.
“Noble Consort Xie is the Xie clan’s di daughter. From a just and noble family background, warm and outstanding and beautiful, she spared no effort to accompany Your Majesty through all sorts of times, sharing joys and hardships with Your Majesty.
“Her beloved daughter is marrying far away, what kind of pain must Noble Consort be in?”
The ministers tacitly stopped bringing up the awkward and sensitive topic of Princess Fukang and the Zhu clan. Enthusiastically praising Noble Consort Xie, they simultaneously hinted to the emperor: they followed the Li family wherever, having no sliver of attachment to the former dynasty!
Prime Minister Zheng Yu had been silent up until now, not opening his mouth. Waiting for everyone to praise two rounds, he stepped forward from the side.
“Your Majesty, the Xie family rallied their clan to assist Your Majesty to recapture Wei County back then. Now, the Xie family is full of heroism; Qin wang opened up new territory for Your Majesty and was seriously injured. The Seventh Princess volunteered to be a substitute for Your Majesty’s great cause. She is about to marry far away…”
He paused for a moment.
“This subject believes that the country cannot be without a monarch for a day, nor can it be without a mother.”
Before the words finished, the ministers’ jaws dropped.
Li De did not make a sound. His gaze swept from Zheng Yu’s face and finally landed on Yaoying.
So it was like this.
She was not asking for nothing, but rather retreating to advance.
Li De said, “Noble Consort Xie is very sick…”
Zheng Yu cupped his hand in obeisance and said, “Your Majesty, if the princess is willing to marry down, the Yelu tribe will send troops on their own accord to help our Wei army recover Liangzhou. If the Seventh Princess marries down as a di princess, won’t Tribal Chief Yelu be all the more grateful to Your Majesty? Noble Consort Xie is very ill, so the palace affairs can be managed by the other noble consorts.”
The implication was that she was Empress only in name. More importantly, Li Yaoying became a di princess, and the court could demand a higher price.
As for Noble Consort Xie, since she was a fool, what could she do with the false name of Empress?
Moreover, when Li De promised to share riches and honor with the Xie family back then, the Xie family had completely died out now. Li De should also compensate the Xie family’s mother and children.
As for Li Zhongqian becoming the di son, was he able to compete with Li Xuanzhen for the throne? No one was worried at all; even a blind person could see how stable his position as the Crown Prince was.
The Ministry of Rites officials immediately seconded the motion.
Other ministers hesitated then followed suit.
Li De pondered for a moment.
He would forever be sensible and realistic. Xie Manyuan has already turned foolish, Li Zhongqian was seriously injured, and Li Yaoying would be married far away…. He had just alarmed the ministers with Zhu Luyun’s matter, making the ministers fearful and anxious. At this time, he could not let them chill again.
Li De’s shrewd mind spun quickly and speedily made a decision: “Pass on this decree to the Central Secretariat and those below, enthroning Noble Consort Xie as Empress and the Seventh Princess as Princess Wenzhao to marry to the Yelu tribe.”
All the ministers quietly breathed a sigh of relief and called out long live.
His Majesty’s willingness to enthrone Noble Consort Xie as Empress meant that he would not be tempted to kill them, the old ministers, for the time being.
Li De took in all the people’s expressions and narrowed his eyes.
It seemed that many people in the court sympathized with the Xie family. He must pay attention to their behavior.
As he was about to rise, Yaoying, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly bowed down again and said aloud, “Your Majesty, this child remembered a matter. Asking for Your Majesty’s permission.”
Li De’s face darkened slightly.
Yaoying said without changing her expression: “This child was thinking about my uncle just now, and my heart ached. My uncle was at Your Majesty’s beck and call, serving with all his heart and soul. The Xie family was wholeheartedly loyal; my pitiful maternal grandfather’s family was devoted for generations, but the branches have been cut off, without having a good ending….. This child will be getting married soon, but thinking that the Xie family does not even have a descendant to offer food to their graves, my heart really is not at ease.
“This child privately thought, the court leaving a devoted family without descendants, could have those with lofty ideals who admire the Xie family be disappointed.”
She looked straight at Li De, met the emperor’s indifferent line of sight, and said word by word: “This child’s blood-related elder brother, Zhongqian, was taught by my uncle when he was young, growing up in the Xie family and inheriting the Xie family’s teachings. This child is willing to show my loyalty, and my brother is also willing to share Your Majesty’s worries. This child would like to request that my elder brother be the Xie family’s heir, inherit the Xie family’s incense, and prevent the Xie family from extinction; allowing the loyal people of the world to feel Your Majesty’s benevolence.”
After speaking, Yaoying bowed her head down.
Everyone in the hall dazedly looked at her, appearing as if being hammered on the head a few times, their brains buzzing until it echoed.
Peace had been restored to Guanzhong, becoming more prosperous by the day.
They were enjoying the pleasures of life, happy and plentiful, but all that remained of the Xie family were barren graves overrun with weeds.
“Your Majesty, this subject seconds the motion.”
Zheng Yu knelt down.
The others followed one by one and knelt down.
Since Li Zhongqian threatened Prince Li Xuanzhen’s position, Noble Consort Xie became the Empress, and the Xie family’s bloodline was cut off, it would be better to just let Li Zhongqian be adopted to the Xie family.
This could be considered continuing the Xie family’s lineage, this majestic and incomparable family name in the hearts of the common people. It could prevent the prince from competing for the throne, avoid unrest in the dynasty, but also protect Li Zhongqian’s life.
Li De sat on the couch, looking at Yaoying, who was motionless, calm, and determined amidst the sound of the group of ministers, and was in a trance for a moment.
No wonder she said those words when she came to see him that day.
No wonder she said she wanted for nothing just now.
So this was it.
Qiniang did not intend to make a deal with him at all. He used qiniang to deter the ministers and solve the scourge Zhu Luyun once and for all; qiniang seized this opportunity to seek a chance of survival for her mother and brother.
From selflessly taking the initiative to be the replacement before, mentioning the Xie family’s friendship, to, when the ministers urgently needed to ease the atmosphere, inciting them to promote Noble Consort Xie as the Empress, then ultimately proposing for Li Zhongqian to be adopted, every step was perfectly calculated.
The ministers in the court would not help her for no reason. Which of these people has made a private alliance with her?
Prime Minister Zheng was not a man who would stand up for what was right.
He had never taken this daughter seriously.
He didn’t expect he had looked down on her.
What a pity that she was Xie Manyuan’s daughter.
If she was born to Tang Ying, she would have been Li Xuanzhen’s right arm.
Li De waved his hand: “Allowed.”
The ministers kowtowed.
Li De did not want to see Li Yaoying again and got up to return to his seat.
Commander-in-Chief Pei did not follow him. Helping Yaoying up, he said with concern, “Princess, shall mou send you back?”
Yaoying shook her head, thanked Commander-in-Chief Pei, and went out of the inner hall.
Xie Qing was waiting for her outside, “Princess, the Jin Wu Wei have restrained Concubine Rong.”
Yaoying nodded her head.
She asked only for Li De to punish Concubine Rong and treat Noble Consort Xie well because she knew she was in a weak position. Li De might not keep his promise, so it was useless to ask for more.
He even lied to his confidant Xie Wuliang, let alone her.
So, she accompanied Li De today to act out a father’s kindness and daughter’s filial piety before asking him publicly for a reward so that he had no room to backtrack.
From today onwards, Li Zhongqian was no longer his son.
Elder brother was free.
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Translator message:
If you’ve made it this far, I assume you somewhat like the novel and want more chapters. So! For the month of August, I’ve decided to post an additional update for every review on NU. I have a slight stash of chapters built up from June, so I came up with this idea. As the translator, I like reading the reviews and comments on the novel even if they’re not the most complimentary. So, the best of both worlds is that for every review posted on NU, I’ll match it with an update. This isn’t necessarily a bribe to make you rate the novel 5 stars—you can rate whatever or not rate at all—but I want a nuanced review on your thoughts so far. I want substance, something more than “this is a review just to get more chapters”. You guys can start reviewing now even though it’s not technically August, and I’ll still post for every review. Hopefully I’m not talking into the void and some people will follow through lol. All up to you guys; if the novel receives no reviews, I can also save a few more chapters :DD
Edit: I would like a paragraph of review, and my definition of paragraph is a minimum of 4 quality sentences. I realized I probably should have defined guidelines because a ‘review with substance’ is vague. I may cap chapters depending on how many reviews are posted because my stock is limited.