The black chess piece fell, cutting off the white piece’s retreat. She continued, “I must play the role of a loving mother, lest those old officials gossip about me being heartless behind my back.”
“Yes.”
“But I have one condition.”
“Please speak, Mother.”
“I want to send someone from my side, under the title of King Yi’s secondary wife, to marry into the household on the same day as Princess Yunxiang.”
Si Suo frowned. “After all these years, does Mother still doubt the Fifteenth Brother’s illness?”
The Empress Dowager’s final black piece sealed her victory, and she laughed. “It’s better to be cautious. Having someone keep an eye on them will put my mind at ease. Besides, I can test Si Zhan.”
“How will you test him?”
“If he accepts the person from my side, it means he truly doesn’t have long to live. If he refuses, it means he has something to hide, and we must be on guard against him.”
Si Suo had never considered Si Zhan a threat, as he was frail and had a short life span.
If it weren’t for his mother’s constant worry, he might have sent Si Zhan back to his fief in Qinan long ago.
Si Suo believed his mother’s concerns were valid. The Fifteenth Brother had always been clever and favored by the late Emperor, with old officials secretly protecting him. If he harbored malicious intentions, it could be troublesome.
In any case, since the Fifteenth Brother lacked a woman, having one more would be just right.
“I will follow Mother’s decree.”
*
In the Chuigong Hall, Si Suo sat on the dragon throne, with the Empress Dowager to his left. Beside her stood a woman in a pale pink robe, her face difficult to see clearly due to her lowered head. The melancholic Empress sat on Si Suo’s right, while the elderly Ning occupied a grand chair on the jade steps.
In front of the jade steps stood Si Zhan, looking serious, and Ning Wanwan, appearing slightly nervous.
Si Suo addressed everyone, “I have summoned everyone today to discuss the Fifteenth Brother’s marriage.”
