Ning Wanwan was unaware, but each time Si Zhan approached her, her strength crumbled. She buried her head in his embrace and cried for her father’s weakness, the injustice of the world, and Si Zhan’s deep love.
“Wanwan, I’m here. I will protect you. Don’t be afraid,” Si Zhan gently comforted her.
Today, Si Zhan turned nineteen and was nearing adulthood, yet no young lady dared to marry him. As a noble prince, his situation was unfortunate.
Si Suo reflected that if the Empress Dowager did not see the Fifteenth Brother as a threat, he might have already been appointed a wife. Now, Princess Yunxiang claimed she was willing to marry him…
Princess Yunxiang was in her prime, yet choosing the Fifteenth Brother meant she would likely become a widow in the future. It seemed she had been pressured into this marriage using the imperial pardon token.
This marriage appeared to be a transaction—an exchange between the Fifteenth Brother and Yunxiang to save Lin Zhengyang’s life, which was both emotionally and legally justifiable. Initially, he thought Yunxiang wanted to break off her engagement with the Crown Prince because of her involvement with the Fifteenth Brother.
Yunxiang was also an extremely filial child. He had intended to reunite Yunxiang with the Crown Prince, believing she would seek his help. However, Yunxiang approached the Fifteenth Brother instead, while the Crown Prince remained impartial. It was evident the two had grown tired of each other, seemingly indicating their fate was sealed.
Si Suo stated, “Since you have brought out the imperial pardon token, we can spare your father’s death penalty. However, while the death penalty can be pardoned, the living penalty cannot be avoided. You had better be mentally prepared.”
Yunxiang understands,” Ning Wanwan bowed deeply.
“But your marriage to the Fifteenth Brother still requires Our consideration for a few days.”
“Yes.”
Ning Wanwan knew that directly proposing to marry Si Zhan in front of the Emperor was impossible; the Emperor would definitely consult the Empress Dowager.
*
In the Baoci Palace.
“Who did you say?” The Empress Dowager paused, looking up in surprise at Si Suo.
“Yunxiang, the young princess from the Ning Guo Mansion.”
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly. “The one who broke off her engagement with the Crown Prince?”
“Exactly.”
The Empress Dowager sneered, “Giving up the position of Crown Prince’s wife to marry that short-lived ghost, has that girl gone mad?”
“It’s because the Fifteenth Brother promised to use the imperial pardon token to save her father’s life. Yunxiang is repaying this kindness.”
“Hehe, that sounds interesting,” the Empress Dowager laughed, glancing at her advantageous position on the chessboard.
Si Suo placed a white chess piece to block the Empress Dowager’s attack and casually asked, “Does Mother think we should approve or disapprove of the Fifteenth Brother’s marriage?”
Oh… the female lead is so difficult, the royal uncle is so difficult, the author is so difficult…
Chapter 45: Spy
The Empress Dowager hesitated with the black chess piece and, after a while, said, “Approve it.”
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.”
Si Zhan, unaware of Ning Wanwan’s initiative for marriage, sensed something was amiss when he saw the Empress Dowager bring a woman into the hall. Anxiously, he asked, “Marriage? Which marriage is Imperial Brother talking about?”
“Don’t you know?
Si Suo looked surprised. “Yunxiang has requested to marry you as a wife.”
Hearing this, Si Zhan was shocked.
Ning Wanwan, afraid of being exposed, shyly explained, “Your Majesty, the King of Yi… he does not know that Yunxiang has already agreed.”
She had wanted to explain this to Si Zhan but didn’t expect Si Suo had already discussed it with the Empress Dowager, settling everything in just a few days.
Si Zhan turned to Ning Wanwan, and seeing her shy demeanor, his heart raced. He thought he had misheard.
“I see,” Si Suo nodded, then looked at Old Lady Ning. “The Empress Dowager and I have agreed to the marriage between my fifteenth brother and Yunxiang. What does Old Madam Ning think?”
Old Lady Ning replied respectfully, “This servant follows the imperial will.”
Si Zhan finally realized this was real. He never imagined Wanwan would take the initiative to ask his imperial brother for marriage.
The thought of Wanwan marrying him filled him with uncontrollable joy. He struggled to maintain a composed expression, lowering his head to hide the happiness in his eyes.
Si Suo announced, “The marriage between King Yi Si Zhan and Princess Yun Xiang is settled.” He then mentioned his mother’s adopted daughter, Xu Man Yao, who would be given as a concubine to his brother, adding to the happiness of the occasion.
Si Zhan’s expression froze. Si Suo called out, “Man Yao, come and pay respects to King Yi and his wife.” Xu Man Yao stepped forward and nervously greeted them.
Ning Wan Wan felt uneasy, realizing the Empress Dowager was positioning an informant. Si Zhan coldly responded to Si Suo, stating he did not want to burden Xu Man Yao due to his weak constitution and requested the order be rescinded.
Si Suo’s expression darkened, and the Empress Dowager exchanged a guarded look with him. The atmosphere in the hall grew tense.
After a moment, the Empress Dowager looked at Si Zhan with a half-smile, “Does this mean you don’t want to marry Princess Yun Xiang either?”
Ning Wan Wan’s heart skipped a beat, realizing Si Zhan’s refusal had aroused the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s suspicions.
Si Zhan’s heartstrings tightened. He bit his back teeth and tightly pursed his lips, saying nothing. The Empress Dowager’s gaze darkened as she looked at him.
