Ye Qianqian, upon hearing the Emperor's question, hurriedly and respectfully rose and replied cautiously.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As Ye Qianqian finished speaking, everyone understood that the identity of the Princess of Beijin falling upon the Ye family was undisputed.
Looking at the Empress Dowager, her expression was grim, her lips tightly pressed together. She glared at Ye Qianqian, never expecting her to be the daughter of a Grand Secretary. How could someone from her family be worthy of the dignified Prince? The Emperor truly had ulterior motives.
"Ye Qianqian, daughter of the Grand Secretary Ye Guangzhao, is beautiful and intelligent. Today, she is bestowed marriage to the Prince of Beijin, with the position of primary consort. The Imperial Observatory is ordered to select an auspicious date for the wedding."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Ye Qianqian said gracefully.
The Emperor's words were final, and the matter was settled. Even if the Empress Dowager wished to turn the tide, she was unable to. She could only watch as the daughter of a fourth-rank Grand Secretary became the Princess of Beijin.
If that is the case, then let Li Xiaowan be a secondary consort. Would the Emperor not even grant her this favor? the Empress Dowager spoke, her breathing unsteady.
"Since the daughter of Grand Secretary Ye is the primary consort, then I decree that Li Xiaowan, the daughter of the Minister of War, be granted the position of secondary consort."
As the Empress Dowager's voice fell, many below exchanged glances. What did the Empress Dowager mean? Why must she insist on Li Xiaowan marrying the Prince of Beijin? Was she truly that exceptional?
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Li Xiaowan's eyes flickered several times, her heart aching fiercely.
She was, after all, the daughter of the Minister of War, yet she was to be placed beneath that woman.
What was most detestable was that the Prince of Beijin was not whom she desired. He was a sickly man, and another woman was already burdened by him. Must she be burdened as well?
However, Li Xiaowan's worries were unfounded, because the Prince of Beijin, Mu Rong Liu Mo, stood up and spoke sincerely.
"Liu Mo thanks my Imperial Brother for the bestowed marriage. Since the Beijin Prince's manor already has a Princess, there is no need to bestow any other women upon it. My health has always been poor, and it is best to recuperate."
The Empress Dowager did not expect her son to disagree with her idea. Her gaze swept over him, and through years of mother-son tacit understanding, she knew that Mo'er was displeased. There was a hint of displeasure in his eyes, so she said no more and fell silent.
"Good," the Emperor nodded with satisfaction.
It was rare for the Prince of Beijin to be so considerate, saving him a lot of trouble. This daughter of the Minister of War, no matter what, he would not bestow her upon the Prince of Beijin. However, bestowing her upon Liu Zhao would not be a problem.
Li Xiaowan, in terms of both appearance and demeanor, was of the highest caliber. Furthermore, she was the daughter of the Minister of War, and she had a brother appointed to a local position. Bestowing her upon Liu Zhao would be beneficial.
"Imperial Brother, please be seated," the Emperor, having arranged for the Prince of Beijin, shifted his gaze to the Prince of Nan'an, Mu Rong Liu Zhao. "Prince of Nan'an, do you have anyone you favor at today's flower banquet?"
As long as Liu Zhao had someone he desired, he, as the Imperial Brother, would surely bestow her upon him.
However, the Prince of Nan'an, Mu Rong Liu Mo, had a cold and hard expression. His gaze slightly lifted, looking at his Imperial Brother. His peripheral vision involuntarily swept towards the Empress.
The Empress, with her beautiful face adorned with a playful shallow smile, her clear and transparent large eyes, flickered with the interest of watching a good show.
Mu Rong Liu Zhao's heart stirred. Could there be such an intelligent and spirited woman in the world?
"Reporting to Imperial Brother, your subject has no intention of taking a consort. I request that Your Majesty retract the decree."
To everyone's astonishment, the Prince of Nan'an refused the marriage. They were all greatly alarmed, fearing the Emperor's anger. They raised their eyes to look, and the Emperor's expression was somewhat dark, but he was not angry. His dark eyes were as deep as an icy pool, quietly gazing at the Prince of Nan'an.
"Prince of Nan'an, a man when grown should marry, and a woman when grown should marry. As a member of the imperial family, to be able to not take a consort is against reason."
Their father and mother were no longer present. As the elder brother of the Prince of Nan'an and as the Emperor, Mu Rong Liu Zun felt this responsibility, not just because he was the Emperor.
The Prince of Nan'an's gaze dimmed. How could he not understand his Imperial Brother's meaning? But he truly did not fancy the women before him, with their affected manners. To say nothing of marrying them, just looking at them was heart-wrenching.
However, since the imperial decree could not be violated, he would take a secondary consort.
"Your subject obeys the decree. However, your subject has one request. The position of primary consort will remain empty for now. I request that you bestow a secondary consort upon your subject."
"Good," Mu Rong Liu Zun knew that the Prince of Nan'an, Liu Zhao, had always been proud, and ordinary women would not enter his eyes. Since he had said so, he would not refuse.
"Today, Li Xiaowan, the daughter of Li Yutang, the Minister of War, possesses excellent appearance and character. She is bestowed as the secondary consort to the Prince of Nan'an."
A dramatic change. Originally, the Empress Dowager favored Li Xiaowan to be the Princess of Beijin, but Ye Qianqian became the Princess of Beijin. And Li Xiaowan surprisingly became the secondary consort to the Prince of Nan'an.
Everyone present looked at what was happening before them, all dumbfounded.
Li Xiaowan, the person concerned, also looked somewhat pale. She never expected the Emperor to bestow her upon the Prince of Nan'an. To be honest, in her heart, she was somewhat afraid of the Prince of Nan'an, Mu Rong Liu Zhao.
But since the Emperor had issued a decree, she had no reason to refuse the marriage.
"Xiaowan thanks Your Majesty for the bestowed marriage."
The flower banquet had reached this point. It seemed complete, but in reality, undercurrents were surging. What had just transpired was already thrilling.
Mu Qingyao calmly observed everything before her. She knew the Emperor's purpose in doing this, and she believed the Empress Dowager also knew. It was absolutely impossible to let the Prince of Beijin marry the daughter of any powerful official in the court.
Therefore, the Empress Dowager's expression was terrifyingly grim, but no one paid her any attention.
Mu Rong Liu Zun, having arranged for the two Imperial Brothers, shifted his gaze to Chu Qianyi and Liu Qianmu.
Chu Qianyi, a shrewd person as always, seeing that the Emperor seemed intent on bestowing marriage upon him, spoke first: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Qianyi already has a favored beauty in his heart. I request that Your Majesty grant my wish."
As Chu Qianyi's words fell, many women opposite secretly shed tears, their hearts filled with sorrow. This fellow had no regard for tender feelings, still smiling with an innocent face, not much different from a fiend.
Since the person had already said such a thing, the Emperor naturally could not do the cruel act of breaking up a couple. Moreover, his purpose today had been achieved. As for the others, he merely asked them symbolically.
Liu Qianmu followed Chu Qianyi and said: "Qianmu also already has a favored beauty in his heart. I request that Your Majesty not make things difficult for Qianmu."
As his words fell, the Emperor did not react much, but a fierce light shot towards them. Others were all looking at Chu Qianyi and Liu Qianmu, completely ignoring that strange light.
But Mu Qingyao, who had been watching the fun from the sidelines, naturally did not miss that dark, furious gaze. It belonged to Princess Mu Rong Ru Yin. She was surprised, why was the princess angry?
Mu Qingyao followed her gaze. The position where she was sitting was occupied by Chu Qianyi and Liu Qianmu. If the princess hated Chu Qianyi, it wasn't entirely true, because Chu Qianyi was her cousin, and anything could be explained clearly. Then, the person the princess cared about was actually Liu Qianmu?
Mu Qingyao's eyebrows moved in surprise. This discovery made her look at Liu Qianmu seriously.