lcionline Chapter 735 A Blessed Marriage? Chen An, You're Too Impatient
Chapter 735 A Blessed Marriage? Chen An, You're Too Impatient
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yunci did not immediately agree. Instead, she chuckled softly, the sound of which was particularly clear in the empty study.
"A marriage decree? Chen An, you're too hasty."
Zhao Chen'an looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with urgency and confusion, "Father, Gu Qingchen, she..."
“I know she has a fiery temper.” Zhao Yunci interrupted him, picked up the tea beside her, and slowly blew on it.
"I know why you are in such a hurry to bring her into the Eastern Palace. However, this matter cannot be rushed."
"Why?" Zhao Chen'an pressed.
Zhao Yunci put down her teacup, her gaze becoming distant, as if she were recalling something from a long time ago.
“When you were young, your mother mentioned that she wanted you to be betrothed to that girl from the Gu family. At the time, I also thought it was a good marriage.”
Zhao Yunci looked at her son and slowly said, "I have summoned Gu Junze for this reason."
"I asked him if he would be willing to give his daughter to the Crown Prince so that she could become the Empress. Do you know how he answered me?"
Zhao Chen'an didn't speak, but listened quietly.
Zhao Yunci's lips curled into a smile. "He said that his Gu family's daughter is a precious gem, raised in the mansion as the apple of their eye, and would never be sent to the royal family to be subservient to others or get involved in conflicts."
He also said that if I insisted on doing so, he would have no choice but to retire from the military and return to his hometown, travel around with his daughter, and never concern himself with the affairs of the court again.
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Zhao Chen'an's head.
He always believed that this marriage was a royal favor bestowed upon the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and the glory that the Gu family had always dreamed of.
But she never imagined that Gu Junze had refused from the very beginning.
"If the Duke of Zhenguo retires and returns to his hometown, what use will you have for Gu Qingchen, who has lost her military power?"
Zhao Yunci pointed out the key point incisively: "The northern border of our Eastern Jin Dynasty cannot do without Gu Junze."
Zhao Chen'an's face instantly turned ugly. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
It turns out, it wasn't that he didn't want to use force, but that he simply couldn't.
Zhao Yunci took in her son's expression and softened her tone slightly, "That's why I let you fight for it yourself. You two grew up together, childhood sweethearts, so there must be some affection between you."
"Isn't that girl crazy and playful? You should put in more effort and cater to her interests. As long as she agrees and insists on marrying you, even if Gu Junze is unwilling, he can't go against his precious daughter."
Seeing her son's still downcast expression, Zhao Yunci assumed he was just troubled by pursuing a woman.
“These things cannot be rushed.” Zhao Yunci’s voice carried a reassuring tone. “Once she is completely devoted to you, I will issue the imperial decree to bestow the marriage upon her, and everything will fall into place naturally.”
Zhao Chen'an's Adam's apple bobbed, and he felt as if a huge rock was blocking his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.
Totally devoted?
The image of Gu Qingchen's resolute yet mocking face, and his resounding words, "I, Gu Qingchen, don't care!" flashed through his mind.
How could he tell his father that they had completely broken off relations and there was no possibility of anything happening between them?
He can't say.
Admitting this is tantamount to admitting one's incompetence. It's admitting that he couldn't even handle a woman, and that she even overturned his table, exposing all his schemes to the light of day.
In the end, all the resentment and humiliation turned into a dull response.
"...Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
Zhao Yunci was fairly satisfied with his reaction, nodded, and picked up a memorial from the desk.
"Perfect timing, the winter hunt is in a few days. At that time, the sons of noble families in the capital will all go together."
Zhao Yunci's gaze fell on Zhao Chen'an. "That girl from the Gu family is skilled in riding and archery, so she will definitely not be absent. As the Crown Prince, you should take her with you more often. Young people can always find something to talk about while riding horses."
"This is an opportunity that I have created for you."
Zhao Chen'an stood frozen in place, his hands clenched tightly at his sides.
He felt trapped in a lie he had woven himself, caught in a dilemma.
"Your subject obeys the decree."
After leaving the Imperial Study, Zhao Chen'an stood in the corridor for a long time, letting the cold wind blow on his stiff face.
His father's words were like a mountain, pressing down on him and making it hard for him to breathe.
It turns out that what he thought was his trump card was never in his hands from the very beginning.
It turns out that Gu Qingchen, whom he considered his prize, had been separated from him by her father many years ago, becoming a forbidden zone for him.
No, he refused to believe it.
The humiliation and resentment in Zhao Chen'an's eyes eventually transformed into a sinister and ruthless look.
So what if Gu Junze doesn't agree? As long as Gu Qingchen is willing, he doesn't believe that the Duke of Zhenguo, who is fiercely protective of his daughter, can really keep her tied down for life.
Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, he immediately summoned his trusted eunuchs.
"Go and find out what Gu Qingchen likes lately. Besides horseback riding and archery, does he have any other hobbies?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Two days later, an imperial edict was delivered to various mansions in the capital.
The emperor was to hold a three-day winter hunt in the Imperial Western Garden, and all officials of the third rank and above in the capital, along with their families, were invited.
When the news reached the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Gu Qingchen was in the courtyard, shooting at the copper coins hanging on the tree with a small silver bow.
She fired three arrows in quick succession, each one piercing the square hole of a copper coin. The accuracy and power of her arrows drew cheers from the maidservants serving her.
"Miss, someone from the palace has arrived. They say the royal family is holding a winter hunt and they request that you, the Duke, and his wife attend." The steward bowed and reported cautiously.
Gu Qingchen put down the bow, took the handkerchief handed to him by the maid, wiped his hands, and remained expressionless.
"Don't go."
It was that boring occasion again, with a group of people dressed in elaborate clothes, saying things they didn't mean. Just thinking about it annoyed her.
“Miss, this…this is His Majesty’s decree, and we are afraid we cannot refuse.” The steward looked troubled.
Gu Qingchen's delicate eyebrows furrowed, and that feeling of being schemed against and manipulated surged up again.
Qian Zhenyun happened to come out of the study, holding a book in his hand. He paused when he heard this.
“It’s time to go.” He walked to Gu Qingchen’s side and said gently, “If you don’t go, it will make our Zhenguo Duke’s Mansion seem guilty.”
Gu Qingchen pursed her lips and didn't refute it further.
She knew Qian Zhenyun was right.
She had just broken ties with Zhao Chen'an when she turned around and refused the emperor's winter hunt. In the eyes of those with ulterior motives, who knows how many accusations they would fabricate about the "Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion harboring resentment and overshadowing the emperor with its merits."
"Let him go if he wants. I want to see what he's up to this time." Gu Qingchen snorted and tossed the bow in his hand to the maid.
However, the first person Zhao Chen'an wanted to clear the stage for was Qian Zhenyun.