lcionline Chapter 399 Loyalty to the Country
Chapter 399 Loyalty to the Country
Chapter 399
Ye Yunzhou closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, the panic in his eyes had faded, leaving only clarity and determination. He lifted his skirt and knelt heavily on the ground. "First, I would like to thank Your Majesty for your concern for my cousin Luo. My mother had previously arranged a marriage for her, but my cousin Luo insisted on following her father's wishes and seeking a son-in-law. However, the nobles in the capital were not likely to agree so easily, so the matter has been put on hold until now. I never thought that Your Majesty, with all his busy affairs, would still care about her. This is a blessing for her, and an honor for us."
Ye Yunzhou expressed his gratitude with sincerity, as if he had completely put himself in the role of his cousin, and there was no trace of other intentions in his words.
Emperor Yuanzhen raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes sharp and his face full of suspicion. "Oh? There is such a thing?"
"That's right. She is the only child of her father. Before his death, he left a will, hoping that she would marry a husband and continue the family line. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me." Ye Yunzhou bowed his head to the ground, his back straight, his voice full of earnestness.
Seeing his sincerity, the suspicion in Emperor Yuanzhen's eyes gradually faded. He knew Ye Yunzhou well; he had always observed the importance and affection this young man attached to his cousin from the Luo family. Yet, he still harbored doubts. The woman, formerly of humble origin, now a daughter of the Prime Minister, made her a suitable match for Ye Yunzhou. Furthermore, he had heard that the Marquis's wife had repeatedly sought marriage, only to return disappointed. Initially, he had been puzzled, believing the woman's demands were too high to grant. But now, it seemed she was seeking a son-in-law to continue the family line. This understanding had shaken his original plans somewhat.
He didn't really change his mind because of the so-called last wish, but he suddenly thought of a better way.
"Stand up. Why do you have to perform such a grand ceremony? If outsiders see us, they will think that I am deliberately making things difficult for you, a meritorious official." Emperor Yuanzhen raised his hand slightly, with a half-smile on his face and an unfathomable look in his eyes.
Ye Yunzhou didn't pretend to refuse. After hearing what Emperor Yuanzhen said, he stood up. He nodded slightly, his posture seemingly respectful, but a hint of coldness flashed in his lowered eyes, which disappeared in an instant.
"I have been worried about the affairs of the imperial palace lately. The six harems are now empty, and Cheng is no longer capable of taking responsibility for their grave mistakes. Without a capable person to lead such a vast harem, it will ultimately be difficult to maintain order. I have thought deeply about it, and I realize that your cousin is always well-mannered and manages her household with great method. If she could apply her domestic management skills to the internal affairs of the palace, I believe she would be able to keep the six harems in good order."
As he spoke, he glanced at Ye Yunzhou, who stood with his hands hanging down. His eyes, filled with countless thoughts, lingered on him for a moment before he spoke slowly, "But now that I think about it, I really can't bear to disobey her late father's wishes. I'm already over forty, with few children, and I'm afraid no royal heir will be born in the future. If I confine her to the palace, not only will this beautiful young woman's life be ruined, but her lineage will also be severed. I simply can't bear it."
After hearing Emperor Yuanzhen reveal his inner thoughts, Ye Yunzhou felt relieved. Since he had revealed everything he was thinking, it meant that he had temporarily given up the idea.
But then, a new worry gripped his heart. The emperor's mind was unpredictable. Although he didn't know why he'd temporarily relented today, if his will suddenly changed, what power would he, as a minister, have to stop him? Don't mention that ridiculous will. Emperor Yuanzhen, showing hesitation, certainly wouldn't change his mind based on such talk. He must have other motives for putting the matter on hold.
He lowered his eyes to hide the turmoil surging in them. Cold sweat seeped from his clenched fists, and a bitter taste rose in his throat. The distinction between ruler and subject, the power of heaven, was undeniable. The chasm between his future and Luo Shuiyao's was far more insurmountable than he had imagined. But if he were asked to let go, to hand Luo Shuiyao over to him, he knew he couldn't do it. And if Emperor Yuanzhen changed his mind again and forced her into the palace, then he feared he would no longer be able to uphold the loyalty and patriotism his father had taught him since childhood.
At this moment, he was filled with regret, hating himself for acting too calmly before, getting entangled in trivial matters, and missing the opportunity. But the matter was done, no matter what the cost, even if it went against his will, even if it meant taking tough measures, he had to keep the person firmly by his side before making any further plans.
Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Emperor Yuanzhen raised his lips in an ambiguous arc, then raised his hand and waved: "You can go back first. I have many urgent government affairs to deal with, so I won't keep you here."
Emperor Yuanzhen remained standing there for a long time, silent until Ye Yunzhou left. Then, he slowly turned his head and looked at Eunuch Su, who had been standing there with his head bowed for a long time. His tone was slightly cold, "What are you doing standing there? Are you afraid I'll eat you?"
Eunuch Su shuddered as if startled, then quickly put on a smile and stepped forward, "Your Majesty, you're teasing me again! You know I'm timid and can't stand being frightened. Besides, Your Majesty is usually very considerate of me, so how could you really treat me like a dish!"
Emperor Yuan Cheng was amused by him and shook his head, saying, "I see that you are getting bolder and bolder. You dare to say all kinds of nonsense."
Eunuch Su shrank his neck and said with an apologetic smile, "It's all because of your indulgence, Your Majesty. If not, how could I dare to speak to you like this?"
Emperor Yuanzhen couldn't help but laugh, but the amusement was fleeting. He collected his expression, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table. Then, with a half-smile on his face, he changed the subject and said, "Tell me, if I kept the woman you love in the palace, promised her a noble position, and then used this to threaten you to work for me, how would you respond?"
The flattering smile on Eunuch Su's face faded a bit. He had listened to every word of the conversation and naturally understood what Emperor Yuan Cheng meant, but he still pretended to be confused: "Your Majesty, I don't understand what you are saying. I am a person without any roots, so how can I have the right to fall in love with any woman?"
"I'm talking about what if! What would you do if you had a woman you loved?" Emperor Yuanzhen knew that Eunuch Su understood and was just joking. Then, he asked again with a stronger tone.
Seeing this, Eunuch Su lowered his eyes, knowing full well that Emperor Yuanzhen would not let this matter slip. After a moment's feigned contemplation, he spoke carefully, "As I say, I have been a chaste man since childhood. I am not an ordinary man, and I do not have feelings for women, so naturally I do not understand these kinds of love affairs. However, Your Majesty also knows that I love money and have accumulated some silver over the years in the palace. Take this silver, for example. If someone steals it and uses it to threaten me..."
He didn't dare say the rest of the words, but looking at his expression, Emperor Yuanzhen understood without asking any more questions.