RPAGF Chapter 219 A King's Promise Is Never Broken
Chapter 219 A King's Promise Is Never Broken
"Go find your fifth brother; I am powerless to help you."
Lou Shenghan pointed to the back, where Yuan Huaize was pestering Xin Moling with questions.
Seeing them approaching, Yuan Huaixue was startled and quickly pulled Lou Shenghan's sleeve aside.
"Yuan Huaixue, let go!"
"Your Excellency, I beg you, please take me out of the palace! Fifth Brother... Fifth Brother will never let me out." She clasped her hands together and pleaded pitifully with Lou Shenghan.
"If I don't want to, why should I take you out of the palace? Just find someone, change into a eunuch's clothes, and you'll be able to leave the palace. Besides, Brother Ling is clearly in the palace, what are you going to his residence for?" Lou Shenghan calmed down a bit and leaned against the palace wall, glancing at her unhurriedly.
"I...I need to see that woman?"
"Woman? Which one?"
"That's the woman Brother Ling brought to the banquet last night. I must go and see what's so special about her that made Brother Ling publicly acknowledge her as his future wife!"
Yuan Huaixue's face flushed red, her eyes flashing with intense resentment and jealousy, leaving Lou Shenghan stunned. Was this little princess going to show off?
Even without Shuiyi, Brother Ling still doesn't like you!
“You…you shut up!”
She became more and more aggrieved as she spoke, and tears gradually welled up in her doe-like eyes. "Prime Minister Lou... please take me with you!"
Lou Shenghan frowned. "But your brothers won't let you leave the palace. If I take you to the General's Mansion and something happens, even ten of my heads wouldn't be enough for His Majesty to cut off."
Yuan Huaixue hurriedly shook her head, "No, I really can't find anyone more suitable than you. Besides, you often go to Brother Ling's residence. I'll leave the palace now, and after I meet that woman, we'll have a banquet later, and then I'll go back to the palace with you."
Seeing that he did not answer, Yuan Huaixue was almost in tears. "Prime Minister, please promise me quickly. Brother Ling and Fifth Brother are coming soon. As long as you take me out of the palace, I will give you the box of treasures that my brother gave me last month."
Lou Shenghan thought to himself, "This little princess is really stubborn. Despite hitting so many walls, she's still deeply in love with Brother Ling. Maybe... I should take her with me? So she can see reality and give up completely? Perhaps then, she won't be incited by that poisonous woman Yun Zhaozhao to do anything bad in the future..."
"Prime Minister Lou? What are you thinking about?"
"Cough cough cough~ Yuan Huaixue, let's make this clear first, you must return to the palace within two hours at most, otherwise you will implicate me and I will not forgive you."
"Yes, yes, yes! Don't worry, Your Excellency, I will definitely obey. Thank you. Let's leave the palace quickly!"
Yuan Huaixue gave him a grateful look. Perhaps it was because her brother, the emperor, hadn't deposed her yesterday that Lou Shenghan hadn't gone too far!
Lou Shenghan was pulled by her sleeve and hurriedly walked down another path. However, as soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, he secretly ordered someone to send a message to Xin Moling, telling him to return to the manor as soon as possible. After all, rivals in love are bound to be hostile to each other...
Inside the Imperial Study, Xin Moyan was propping her head up and dozing off out of boredom, completely unaware that Yuan Huaijun had entered.
Suddenly, a large shadow fell over her face. She rubbed her eyes and finally saw the person in front of her. She hurriedly stood up.
"See Your Majesty."
Yuan Huaijun smiled faintly, gestured for her to sit down and talk, and then sat down beside her.
"Did Yan'er not sleep well last night?"
"Hmm~ It's my first time staying at the palace, and I'm having some trouble sleeping."
"You've only been away from the palace for a few months, how can you say this is your first time here?"
"Uh...this..."
Xin Moyan didn't know how to explain, nor could she explain, "Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask of you."
He frowned, seemingly displeased by her unfamiliarity. "Yan'er, in front of me, you may still call me that."
"OK then!"
She nodded, not dwelling on the details, and sat down opposite him, saying earnestly, "Your Majesty, although I don't know why Ye Lan suddenly wants me to go for a marriage alliance, is there really no other way besides your imperial decree?"
"Yan'er, do you mean you don't want to be my empress?"
"Your Majesty, you are my cousin, and I am your cousin. This is the bond of blood!"
"Hehe~" Yuan Huaijun couldn't help but chuckle at her conflicted little expression.
“Yan’er, the practice of cousin marriage has existed since ancient times. The fifth prince’s mother was the niece of the Empress Dowager’s family, and she was also a direct cousin of the Emperor.”
"No, no, no! Your Majesty, what I mean is, I have always regarded you as an older brother, and my thoughts are different from those of the world. I cannot accept this marriage between cousins. Moreover, I... I don't have those kinds of feelings for you!"
"But... I have it, that's enough."
Xin Moyan's eyelids twitched. "Your Majesty... could you please withdraw that imperial edict?"
His phoenix eyes showed no surprise at these words. He simply stared into Xin Moyan's eyes and said, word by word, "A ruler's word is law."
Seeing Yuan Huaijun's serious expression, she began to panic and hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, perhaps it is because I have been frequently appearing before you lately that some of my absurd remarks have impressed you and caused you to have some misconceptions. In fact, the relationship between you and me is only that of brother and sister. Please retract your order. I do not wish to be your empress."
His deep, resonant voice carried a hint of assertiveness, "Yan'er, remember this: no matter what the unusual phenomena of this sacrificial ceremony are, and no matter whether Ye Lan mentions a marriage alliance, I have already decided to make you my empress. This is something no one can change."
Hearing this, Xin Moyan fell silent. It seemed the most difficult person to deal with wasn't Ye Lan's marriage proposal, but her cousin...
"Your Majesty, but I don't like you, and I don't want to marry you."
"If I am pleased, then Yan'er need not say anything more. After the court assembly, she can focus on preparing to become my empress."
Xin Moyan's face grew increasingly grim. She suddenly stood up, bent her knees, and bowed respectfully to him. "I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree. I am unworthy of this position and cannot shoulder this great responsibility."
"Looking across Yuanqi, which woman wouldn't want to be the most honored woman in the world? Yan'er, Ye Lan can grant you the privilege of having six palaces in name only, and so can I. As long as you become my Empress, I will no longer take any concubines. As for those four, I have my own way of settling them. The harem will consist of only you. Is that alright?"
"Not good, not good!"
Xin Moyan shook her head frantically, "Your Majesty, I don't want to deceive you, my heart already belongs to someone else."
The moment the words were spoken, the teacup, which had been held halfway up the table, was slammed down again with a dull, suppressed sound.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her eyes were extremely honest and straightforward. She knew that His Majesty would definitely be angry.
"It's Xuan Yuan."
"Ah? Your Majesty, how do you know him..."
"I will absolutely not allow you to be together."