Chapter 94
Wenhua Hall.
The Second Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince came together to give thanks.
"My father has worked hard for érchén's marriage, and érchén (1) thanks my father for his grace." The second prince raised his brows and smiled like a spring breeze.
Emperor Yongjia smiled and glanced at his second son who had his wish fulfilled. The sullenness in his heart had disappeared at this time: "I finally see your smiling face."
Sons are debt collectors, and it was only natural for a father to worry about his son’s marriage.
The Second Prince smiled pleasantly: "My father likes to see érchén laugh, so érchén will laugh for my father every day in the future."
Emperor Yongjia laughed and sighed inwardly.
This bastard. Before, he always put on a respectful stinky face in front of him, but now that he was happy, he was willing to show a smile to his own father.
The Fourth Prince also had a beaming look on his face: "Erchén didn't expect that Royal Father will issue a decree so early to give his son a marriage. Many thanks to the father."
Emperor Yongjia smiled and teased the Fourth Prince: "You are not in a hurry, your imperial grandmother is in a hurry, and she has urged me several times. I thought that it would be better to give your brothers three marriages together."
It's not just a matter of a day or two for Dowager Empress Zhao to be partial to her natal family.
Qin Shi was the maternal niece of the Dowager Empress who had lost her mother at a young age and was fostered in the Zhao family. She took pity on this niece and married her as a concubine to her son.
Emperor Yongjia sat on the dragon chair, and the women in the inner courtyard upgraded one after another. Qin shi became the Qinfēi (3), and the concubine-born son became the Fourth Prince. With Dowager Empress Zhao favoring her, the Fourth Prince was also favored.
The marriage of the Fourth Prince, Dowager Empress Zhao had long fixed it with her family's sūnnǚ (4), Zhao Yu, just a few months older than the Fourth Prince, and her age was just right. Everyone was happy with this marriage.
In the past, the Fourth Prince was still young, so it was inconvenient for the Dowager Empress Zhao to open her mouth.
After Emperor Yongjia returned to Beijing this year, Empress Dowager Zhao mentioned it no less than five or six times. Emperor Yongjia was a dutiful son, and Zhao Yu grew up in front of him. There's nothing wrong with her other than being a little naive. Emperor Yongjia issued the imperial decree together.
The Fourth Prince was very happy with this marriage, and asked expectantly, "Then am I going to marry together with the second brother and the third brother?"
Emperor Yongjia smiled dumbfounded: "How can this be done? Your second brother and third brother will get married next year at the latest. You'll have to wait a year and a half, to say the least."
The Fourth Prince deliberately showed an extremely disappointed expression, which made Emperor Yongjia laugh.
In a harmonious atmosphere, the Third Prince, Li Hao, seemed extraordinarily quiet and silent.
Emperor Yongjia restrained his smile and said to the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince first: "You two both go back, I have something to say to Ah Hao alone."
The Fourth Prince knew it well, so he didn't ask any more questions.
The Second Prince didn't say anything, just smiled and glanced at Li Hao.
Li Hao: "…"
A trace of anger flashed in Li Hao's black eyes. He clenched his fist subconsciously, and the heartless words from Lu Mingyu's indifferent face flashed in his mind, and the anger in his heart suddenly dissipated.
There is only a heart full of desolation.
Emperor Yongjia frowned slightly and gave the Second Prince a warning look.
The Second Prince smiled calmly and bid farewell.
The Fourth Prince and the Second Prince left Wenhua Hall together. The Fourth Prince leaned over to the Second Prince and whispered, "Second brother, I broke a cold sweat for you just now. I'm really worried that the third brother can't help it..."
The Second Prince raised his eyebrows.
The Fourth Prince was so clever, and his words changed immediately: "The Royal Father has ordered the marriage, and the marriage has been decided. In fact, the third brother's marriage is also really good."
The Second Prince's eyes flashed, and he said lightly, "Daughter of the Marquis of Guangping, it's not bad."
This is the marriage that Su Zhaorong tried so hard to find.
In the future, let the mother and son "get it" slowly!
…
"Ah Hao, come here."
Emperor Yongjia commanded in a deep voice.
Li Hao replied in a low voice, took a few steps forward, and was six feet away from Emperor Yongjia.
Emperor Yongjia glanced over Li Hao's thin and gloomy handsome face, and said lightly, "It's not that I don't love you. I was also happy for you when you wanted to marry Fourth Miss Lu."
"But I didn't expect that you and your second brother liked the same woman."
"King Xingyang politely rejected my proposal on the grounds of recruiting a son-in-law. It doesn't matter if I lose face, but you brothers turned against each other for a woman, it made me very angry."
"I beat up your brothers that day so that you can recuperate and reflect on yourself. I have already thought about choosing another beautiful woman for you. I never thought about it, your second brother came to me again, saying that Fiurth Miss Lu had already agreed to the marriage. "
"I asked the King of Xingyang, and he also agreed. I am the Emperor and also a father, so I have to fulfill my son's wishes. I believe I have not let you down. Su Zhaorong wanted the daughter of the Marquis of Guangping as a wife for you, and so I agreed."
"Has the daughter of the Meng family ever treated you unfairly?"
Li Hao pursed his lips and replied in a low voice, "Ms. Meng's family background and appearance are all first-class. This marriage has not humiliated érchén at all."
Emperor Yongjia's expression sank, and his voice became a little colder: "Since I have not insulted you, who are you showing such a dying look?"
Li Hao was speechless for a moment.
Emperor Yongjia's voice sounded in Li Hao's ear: "Today, I will do my father's responsibility and teach you well."
"The marriage was not decided then. And it is up to you whether you want to fight with your second brother for it. I can turn a blind eye. But now, it is your second brother who has taken the lead, making Lu's father and daughter nod in response to the marriage."
"Since you lost, you have to admit it."
No, he did not lose to the Second Prince.
He lost to...a secret he couldn't figure out.
Li Hao only felt that his heart was desolate, and a cold wind was blowing from nowhere. His internal organs were blown through by the cold wind, and there was no temperature at all.
Emperor Yongjia was a tough and ruthless ruler who had led troops into battle and seen countless lives lost. When he hardened his heart, even facing his own son, he was just as cold and sharp: "Don't show such a despicable and pitiful look again. Otherwise, I will be the first to look down on you."
Li Hao's dark eyes darkened, and he cheered up and replied: "Father taught me a lesson."
Emperor Yongjia snorted: "I don't know how many pairs of eyes are staring at the palace inside and outside. You don't even have a smile on such a great occasion. You think everyone is blind?"
"Put this face away for me immediately. Go to the palace banquet happily later, so that everyone can see that you are happy about this marriage."
"Especially Concubine Meng Gui, she has always loved Meng Yunluo. If you let her see your virtue, how could she not be annoyed? If she talks to Guangping Furen in private, the Meng family will be dissatisfied, and they haven't married yet. Before even getting married, there will be a gap first."
"Is this what you want?"
The final sentence was as if a thunderbolt had struck, making a profound impact.
It was like a basin of ice water was poured on Li Hao's head.
Li Hao's body shook, his eyes suddenly became calm and clear, and he cupped his fists and said, "What my Royal Father said is true. It was Erchen who lost his head and resented his second brother."
"Thank you father for this lesson, érchén has already figured it out."
1. This is how princes refer to themselves.
2. Daughter of Brother.
3. Qin concubine
4. Daughter of the son. In this case, the daughter is from the male line.